We all know a special pet that has touched our heart and had a huge affect on our lives.  Well, meet Oscar,  truely a special tabby cat. A resident of Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, R.I., he is very sensitive to patients that are near death and will plant himself on their bed until their passing. At first that may seem a bit unsettling, but he has given great comfort to many families who were so glad that their loved one did not die alone.  Many patients that Oscar watches are those with  end stage dementia  or alzheimer's disease. There are examples of family lives that Oscar has touched including the life of Dr. David Dosa who was a bit skeptical concerning Oscar's particular sensitivity.

David Dosa, MD is a practicing geriatrician and health services researcher at Brown University. Dosa wrote an essay about Oscar  that was published in the New England Journal Of Medicine.  Following much public attention, Dosa decided to write this book . He is trying to convince his wife that a cat or dog for the home is a necessary addition to their family.

Oscar basically takes  over the 3rd floor of the nursing facility and does pretty much what he wants, but  he has a mission and when the time comes, he will be on a bed giving comfort to the dying patient and their family.  This is as must read for those who have family who suffer from this dreaded disease.   This endearing book is informational as well as comforting.