The "Grim Reapurr"

[JasonV]

This is great. A cat who knows when someone has less than 4 hours to live.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=470906&in_page_id=1770

[Rebekka]

Wow, that is so beautiful. Thanks for the link JasonV! :thumbsup: I'd love to die with a kitty beside me. And it's great that family members now have the chance to say goodbye.

I think - well, I wouldn't be surprised if this were the case - that body temperature or smell has something to do with this. Also, cats are pretty good observers - my cats often jump on my lap when I am sad.

It's great that the nursing home allows pets - it is a well-known fact that older people benefit from having a pet to cuddle with or to care for. It can be a good influence on the old person's health (and good for both human and animal heart rate!) and can even keep dementia further away. In this home it is obviously too late for that as they are for patients with alzheimers, but still, well done! More nursing homes and old folks homes should allow pets, for the patients' benefit - they live longer.

[cubanito]

Not at all surprised. We have a cat that is extremely connected to our family. The first time she gave birth she brought out her newborn kittens one by one and placed them in front of our kids to play with. The second time she crawled up in bed at 3AM, stuck her but into my Rt armpit and proceeded to give birth with my assistance. Who told her I was a physician I'm not sure, but she was mistaken about me being an obstetrician. We spayed her after that.

Anyway, this very unusual cat, who actually allows me to give her soap and water baths, knows when anybody in our family is sick or in pain. She will invariably go to that person and at times literally massaged somebody's aching belly or back.

Very unusual cat we have.

On another note, I remember a study sometime back where dogs were able to be trained to a high degree of accuracy to detect lung cancer by smelling a person's breath. They proved more accurate than simple chest x-rays, but not as accurate as CT scans. Considering the altered biochemistry of cancer cells, this is actually easily explained. However, the expense of training and handling outweighed the benefits.

JR

[Rebekka]

On another note, I remember a study sometime back where dogs were able to be trained to a high degree of accuracy to detect lung cancer by smelling a person's breath. They proved more accurate than simple chest x-rays, but not as accurate as CT scans. Considering the altered biochemistry of cancer cells, this is actually easily explained. However, the expense of training and handling outweighed the benefits.

JR
Yeah, I had heard about that too! Amazing!

Well when my dad got colon cancer I noticed that he smelled differently (I have a very sensitive sense of smell) - I didn't know he had cancer, but I thought he had a bad breath too. I was too polite to mention it, and felt guilty about that later when I found out he had cancer. Next time if I notice a change in smell I will tell the person and take him or her to the doctor. My dad survived cancer thank God.

What a great cat you have! :thumbsup:

[Loki]

The cat is Death?! Burn it!

[Victrixa]

Awww what an amazing cat! :hug: :clap:

[JasonV]

I was thinking about this article this afternoon, and seem to recall that the Egyptians believed Cats were the guardians of the underworld.

Interesting connection here.

[Rebekka]

I was thinking about this article this afternoon, and seem to recall that the Egyptians believed Cats were the guardians of the underworld.

Interesting connection here.
When I was in Rome earlier this year I saw a mummy of a cat in the Vatican musea. That was touching.

[Victrixa]

I saw cat mummies over here during an exhibition on Ancient Egypt. :)

[Loki]

There's also the wive's tale that cats will kill newborns by smothering them. Perhaps that was inspired by similar behavior?

[Victrixa]

Rebekka (and all other cat lovers) :wave: ,

Come and join other CF cat lovers over in the Christian Cat Lovers Club here:

http://www.christianforums.com/t1024019

:)

[Rebekka]

Rebekka (and all other cat lovers) :wave: ,

Come and join other CF cat lovers over in the Christian Cat Lovers Club here:

http://www.christianforums.com/t1024019

:)
Thanks for the link Victrixa - I didn't know it existed!!!

I joined. :)