It’s often said that cats can sense death…This weekend, while I was at home cuddling my cat and watching movies, I never expected to see an adorable feline appear in the thriller Doctor Sleep. The moment that soft, fluffy cat showed up, all my tension instantly melted into pink, heart-warming vibes.In the film, this Ragdoll cat isn’t just unbelievably beautiful—it can actually predict human death. Whenever someone in the nursing home is about to pass away, the cat quietly curls up by their bedside and stays with them until their final moment.This isn’t just a fictional supernatural plot. A very similar story was once reported in Rhode Island, USA. A cat named Oscar was said to possess the same mysterious ability described in the movie. Living in a nursing home, Oscar accurately predicted the deaths of more than 50 patients—and even made headlines for it.The nursing home mainly cared for patients with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and other severe conditions, most of whom were already in the final stages of illness. Oscar had been raised in the nursing home since he was a kitten, and every day he would wander from room to room, checking on people suffering from various ailments.No one can explain exactly why Oscar seemed able to foresee death. Some doctors speculate that it might be related to a cat’s extraordinary sense of smell. Patients close to death may release certain unique odors that sensitive cats can detect, triggering Oscar’s unusual behavior around those nearing the end of life.Thinking about it… that’s actually pretty impressive.I couldn’t help turning to look at my own cat—currently sleeping like a pig—and realized the only “special ability” mine has is predicting when I walk toward the kitchen… which simply means dinner is about to be served.
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Do Cats Know When Their Own Time Has Come?
Of course, there’s no scientific evidence showing that cats can predict human death.However, most cats can sense when their own life is nearing its end—and they often prepare for it in advance.The most common saying is that “cats hide themselves before they die.”Have you ever noticed that stray cats are everywhere on the streets—yet you almost never see their bodies unless they died from an accident? It’s as if they “disappear without a trace.”
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Why Do Cats Hide Themselves?
Older generations often say that cats quietly leave home before death because they don’t want their owners to be sad—a touching explanation.But from a scientific and instinctual standpoint, a cat hides itself before dying for two major reasons:1. Avoiding Danger.This is a survival instinct. Animals hide to protect themselves from predators.As a cat approaches death, its physical functions decline, leaving it extremely vulnerable. So it seeks a safe, hidden place to “heal” or spend its final moments.For house cats, places like closets, gaps along the walls, or other quiet corners feel safe and secure.2. Instinctive Solitude.Cats are naturally solitary creatures.They prefer to die quietly, in a hidden spot where they feel undisturbed—refusing to depend on anyone, even if they know you love them deeply.This is especially true for stray cats.
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How Do House Cats Say Goodbye to Their Owners?
For cats who have lived with their humans for many years, the moment death draws near becomes a kind of “farewell ritual.”Starting as early as three months before their final days, cats may begin to show behaviors similar to saying goodbye.In an article from the online veterinary care journal of the International Society of Feline Medicine, a 1995 large-scale study examined behavioral health in senior cats, with over 1,200 owners participating.The results showed:80% of cats become more emotionally attached, craving more attention from their humans.For example, they spend more time near their owners and may behave like they did when they were kittens.One-third of cats cry or howl at night, seeking attention and affection—such as bringing toys to their owner and asking to play.One-quarter become more jealous, showing hostility toward other animals in the home, wanting exclusive affection from their owner.50% become more attached to home, no longer going out as often as before.In addition, unneutered male cats may begin marking the owner’s belongings within the last three months of life—often through inappropriate urination—as a way of leaving their scent.Some cats want to taste “the first food they ever ate at home” one more time.If a cat’s first meal was a chicken-flavored canned food, it may cling to you before dying, begging for that same chicken can again.Some cats lick their owners frequently—even if they’ve never done so before.If your senior cat suddenly starts licking you, you should be aware of what that might mean.These behaviors may frustrate or even upset you, but they’re actually your cat’s final farewell gift, perhaps its way of saying:“Hey… I’m leaving soon. This is my last way of loving you.”Some animal behaviorists believe that house cats view their owners as “weaker creatures who rely on the cat to survive.” Since the home is a cat’s territory, it worries that after it dies, the smell of its body may attract predators and put its owner in danger.So when a house cat hides away to die quietly, it may be its final act of tenderness toward the person it loves.
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It Turns Out Cats Have Been Taking Care of Us All Along
Reading all this, I suddenly understood that saying:“I’m not the one taking care of my cat—my cat has been taking care of me.”Perhaps only after spending many years together, and even after the cat has completely left us, do we truly realize the depth of its affection.I can’t help thinking of how every time I went to the bathroom or took a shower, my cat insisted on watching me until it felt assured.Maybe it always believed it was protecting me—never daring to relax, even for a moment, until its very last breath.Do you still remember how your cat watched you when you left home and greeted you when you returned?Maybe you were only going downstairs to buy something, picking up a document at the office, or grabbing a bowl of noodles across the street.But your cat was always there, waiting.Always facing the door or the camera.Waiting for you to come home—day after day, year after year.
When your cat reaches an advanced age, and you notice it hiding more frequently to “heal” itself, please don’t ignore the signs.Take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible—don’t leave yourself with regrets.A cat’s life is short, and every cat owner must understand one truth:your cat will almost certainly leave this world before you do.If you can, spend more time with your cat before that final farewell.Don’t be afraid—offering your cat companionship and love is already the very best gift you can give.After all, your scent and your warmth are what your cat cherishes most throughout its life.And we firmly believe this:One day, the cat you lose will return to you—at some moment, in some form, in its own mysterious way.
