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A remarkable cat. A special gift. A life-changing journey.
They thought he was just a cat.
When Oscar arrived at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island he was a cute little guy with attitude. He loved to stretch out in a puddle of sunlight and chase his tail until he was dizzy. Occasionally he consented to a scratch behind the ears, but only when it suited him. In other words, he was a typical cat. Or so it seemed. It wasn't long before Oscar had created something of a stir.
Apparently, this ordinary cat possesses an extraordinary gift: he knows instinctively when the end of life is near.
Oscar is a welcome distraction for the residents of Steere House, many of whom are living with Alzheimer's. But he never spends much time with them--until they are in their last hours. Then, as if this were his job, Oscar strides purposely into a patient's room, curls up on the bed, and begins his vigil. Oscar provides comfort and companionship when people need him most. And his presence lets caregivers and loved ones know that it's time to say good-bye.
Oscar's gift is a tender mercy. He teaches by example: embracing moments of life that so many of us shy away from.
Making Rounds with Oscar is the story of an unusual cat, the patients he serves, their caregivers, and of one doctor who learned how to listen. Heartfelt, inspiring, and full of humor and pathos, this book allows readers to take a walk into a world rarely seen from the outside, a world we often misunderstand.
Praise for Making Rounds With Oscar
"This touching and engaging book is a must-read for more than
just cat lovers; anyone who enjoys a well-written and compelling
story will find much to admire in its unlikely hero."
-Publisher's Weekly
"I love this book -- Oscar has much to teach us about empathy and
courage. I couldn't put it down."
-Sarah Gruen, author of Water for Elephants
"At its heart, Dosa's search is more about how people cope with
death than Oscar's purported ability to predict it."
-The Associated Press
"Beautifully written, heartwarming [...] Told with profound
insight and great respect for all involved, this is more than
just a cat story (although it will appeal to fans of Vicki
Myron's Dewey)."
-Library Journal
"You'll be moved."
-People
Making the Rounds with OscarReviewed by Esme, 2010-03-03
Animals are such agreeable friends-
They ask no questions, they pass not criticisms"
GEORGE ELLIOT
As a tribute to Miss. B. as she was affectionately called my our
neighbours this weeks posts will be about cats. Not just cats
extraordinary cats that have made a difference in the world just
like Miss B. did for me. Every kitten, puppy, animal makes a
difference in this world, some of them just get the chance to show
their difference and receive recognition.
From the book jacket you have probably figured out that Making the
Rounds With Oscar is about Oscar, a cat. Oscar is a cat with an
extraordinary gift, Oscar knows when his patients are going to die.
As the time nears Oscar goes to their bed and sits with them
waiting for the moment when life ends and the next stage begins. We
all know that at sometime we are going to die. When I die I hope
that I can have the same tranquility, peace and comfort that I have
little doubt Oscar brought to his friends.
I first heard about Oscar in the news. It was an eerie phenomenon
when Oscar began making the rounds at the Steere House nursing home
choosing to spend time with the patients he knew where ready to
enter the next phase on this planet. Dr. Dosa is a geriatrician at
Steere House a home for the terminally ill. This nursing home is
truly unique in that Oscar is not their only cat; the home has a
family of cats.
Dr. Dosa was initially skeptical when told about Oscar's abilities.
After all, he is a scientist and all scientists need facts not
speculation. What makes Oscar's story unique is not his ability to
predict death but the comfort he gave the patients and families of
patient's at Steere House.
In some ways Oscar was a typical cat, he loved to stretch out in
the warmth of the sun, he could be moody and aloof and like all
cats he considered the nursing home really be his world. All the
families though noticed a unique characteristic about this nursing
home cat. Oscar was a welcome invitation when the time to die
approached. Oscar was territorial with his patients, scratching at
their door to be let in and then snuggling up with them until their
last breath was taken.
The true lesson of this book is the comfort we as humans derive
from having an animal or pet around us. Family members spoke about
the pleasant and welcoming distraction of having a cat in a nursing
home. They described how they could tend to their parent, as their
children would play with the cat, how they enjoyed seeing a cat in
a place that many associate with death. We all know that pets
relieve stress so why not having a cat in nursing home?
Death is a subject that we do not like to discuss. As Dr. Dosa
tenderly tells us "Oscar's gift is a tender mercy. He teaches by
example: embracing moments of life that so many of shy away
from".
I truly enjoyed this book. Oscar's story is inspirational. As a pet
owner myself I know the joy that my pets give to me. After a lousy
day there is nothing better than coming home to my babies. I also
have a parent in a long term facility. Animals never look at a
patient noticing tubes and wheelchairs. Kudos to Dr. Dosa and his
staff for recognizing the therapeutic advantages of having a cat in
a nursing home. Dr. Dosa so believed in Oscar's comfort to families
and patients he wrote an article for the New England Journal of
Medicine.
small but complex readReviewed by chickpea's mom, 2010-03-03
I had read about Oscar when Dr. Dosa's story about him broke a
couple of years ago, and as a cat lover found it very intriguing.
As any animal lover will attest, animals do have the ability to
sense and communicate on a level that can be incomprehensible to us
mere mortals. When I heard the book was coming out, I immediately
pre-ordered. I found the story incredibly fascinating.
Many reviews mentioned the readers' disappointment with the fact
that the book really wasn't about Oscar, and that is true to an
extent--Oscar remains a mystery throughout the book, and Dr. Dosa
readily admits that he doesn't really know or understand Oscar. But
while that is the point--any cat lover will tell you that cats are
an enigma--it is also completely beside the point. The book is
really about what Dr. Dosa learns about the disease of dementia
while trying to learn more about Oscar. And his exploration of the
many levels of experiencing dementia, whether it be as patient or
caregiver, makes for compelling reading. As someone who recently
lost a parent to Alzheimers, I think this is a very important book.
It's not a clinical handbook or what to expect, and that's not
needed--there are plenty of those out already, and doctors excel at
presenting only the clinical information. Instead this book
illustrates how different people handled their loved ones' illness,
and how we can learn from them to make it through our own journey
down a similar path. It was the phenomenon of Oscar that led Dr.
Dosa to this exploration, so clearly he deserves mention in the
title--you can't fault the author for that.
This was an "easy" read--the book isn't that long, so I finished it
in a matter of hours. I would urge anyone facing the
dementia-related illness of a loved one to take that little bit of
time to read this book, as it will give you a unique perspective
that will only help you with what you're facing. Alzheimers and
related diseases are so greatly misunderstood that it's difficult
to know whether you're ever doing the "right" thing to care for
your loved one. And because there is no "right" and "wrong" there
is often a lot of guilt involved no matter what you do. If you're
an animal lover, the read will be that much easier. And if you're
not, it doesn't matter because the book isn't so much about Oscar
as it is about what Dr. Dosa learned because of Oscar.
Got really repetitive. . .Reviewed by BatGirl, 2010-03-02
I was very interested in the concept of this book and looked
forward to reading it. The first couple chapters were the best,
then it just became "oh, another chapter with different patient
demographics where THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENS" over and
over.
OK, I get it, the doctor doesn't want to believe in the magic cat.
He doesn't have to beat me over the head with his doubts. I
finished it only out of hopes that something else would happen.
Nope.
Learned something new to help with family member with dementiaReviewed by M. Bryce, 2010-03-01
I loved this book. My mother's dementia has escalated since this past Thanksgiving. She is now in Assisted Living and sometimes I just don't know what to do when she goes on crying jags and starts to throw things. Fortunately, she is in an excellent retirement home, but I learned something in this book that wasn't obvious to me before - it's okay to change the subject (misdirect) when she starts to get agitated. I have always had cats and I would love to have an Oscar with me at the end. My mother's retirement home has a bunny, but maybe they'll have a cat by the time I get there. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves cats and/or has someone close who has dementia.
Very Good. Highly Recommended.Reviewed by Cool Cat, 2010-02-28
This book is a very interesting case study of what animals know and sense that we can't see. Oscar the cat's home is Steere House, a home Alzheimer and dementia patients, whenever a patient is about to pass on Oscar knows and lays down by the patient to see them on their way. For many Oscar is comforting and provides moral support, even when they know their loved one is about to go. There is no real explanation for this, however Dosa explains it maybe something the cat can smell. When humans are ill animals can sense it. Initially not a cat lover, Dosa the doctor and author, begins to form a relationship with the cat as do all who come in contact with him. This book is written from a real emotional prospective and most of the medical jargon you'd expect from a doctor's book is kept to a minimum and used only for explanation. Dosa also presents the heartbreaking effects of dementia and Alzheimer's on the victims and their families. This book is must for cat lovers and non cat lovers alike. There is parts in this book that made me laugh and tear up. It made me open my eyes to have a deeper understanding of what Alzheimer's does to families. I highly recommend this book.
