In 2005, a nursing home in the US got a six-month-old kitten named Oscar as a therapy cat. The staff soon noticed something unusual about him. Oscar often liked to be by himself, but sometimes he would go and lie next to one of the residents. Strangely, the resident he chose would often pass away within a few hours. At first, the workers didn't think it was important, but after it happened 20 times, they started to think Oscar knew when someone was going to die. So, they began to call the resident's family if they saw Oscar with them. Some people think Oscar could sense certain smells from dying cells, and that's why he went to comfort residents who were alone. There was even a time when the staff thought one resident was going to die, but Oscar stayed with a different, healthier-looking person, who then died first. Oscar lived until 2022 and was right about more than 100 deaths during his life.
32 of the most haunting photos from history historydefined.net/haunting-photo… historydefined.net/haunting-photo…
Coincidence or Fate In the late 1800s, a man named Henry Ziegland lived in Texas. He was dating a young woman, but decided to end their relationship, and she became deeply heartbroken. In her distress, she took her own life. Her brother, filled with anger and grief, sought revenge on Ziegland and confronted him. During the confrontation, he shot at Ziegland and then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life. Unbeknownst to everyone, the bullet intended for Ziegland had missed its mark and embedded itself in a nearby tree. Ziegland, believing he had escaped the threat, eventually moved on with his life. Years later, around 1913, Ziegland decided to remove the same tree. Unable to chop it down with an axe, he used dynamite to bring it down. As the tree exploded, the long-forgotten bullet was dislodged and propelled with great force, striking Ziegland in the head leading to his death.
Yuri Knorozov was a Soviet linguist who deciphered the Mayan script in 1953. He had a habit of listing his Siamese cat Asya as a co-author to many of his works; however, his editors would always remove her. Knorozov would also use this photo with Asya as his official author photo and would get upset whenever his editors would crop her out. Deciphering the Mayan script was extremely challenging because there was no Rosetta Stone to provide translations into other languages. The only clues that remained were from Mayan stelae (stone monuments) that were scattered throughout several different ruins. Knorozov worked in isolation in the Soviet Union and was able to make major advancements without ever stepping foot in Central America. His breakthrough was rejecting the notion that the Maya glyphs were based on an alphabet but rather a syllabary (a set of written characters representing syllables). When Knorozov published his work, he was attacked and dismissed by several prominent academics, most notably, J. Eric S. Thompson, a British scholar who believed that the Mayan script was anti-phonetic and based on ideographic principles. It also did not help that Knorozov published his research during the height of the Cold War when Western scholars were quick to dismiss the works of Soviet scholars as being tainted by Marxist ideology. It took decades for Knorozov to finally receive the recognition he deserved. One of Knorozov's earliest supporters was an American Anthropology professor at Yale by the name of Michael D. Coe who would later go on to write, "Yuri Knorozov, a man who was far removed from the Western scientific establishment and who, prior to the late 1980s, never saw a Mayan ruin nor touched a real Mayan inscription, had nevertheless, against all odds, made possible the modern decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing."
@fasc1nate Kurt Cobain showing his daughter a kitten (1993)
@fasc1nate Free kitten
Beyond Oscar's fascinating gift, a lesser-known fact is how he became an "empathic early warning system" for the nursing home staff. Oscar's intuitive behavior not only brought comfort to residents but also served as a source of emotional support for the workers. His presence prompted the staff to reach out to families when they noticed him snuggling with a resident. Oscar forged a unique bond not only with those he comforted but also with the entire staff, turning him into a beloved and trusted member of the community. Oscar's impact extended even further; he became a catalyst for communication among families. His unusual behavior prompted calls to the residents' loved ones, urging them to be with their family members during their final moments. The connection and sense of closure Oscar facilitated were invaluable to families, offering them the chance to be present during these challenging times. Oscar was not just a cat; he was a messenger of love and support, fostering unity and shared strength among families who shared in his extraordinary presence. However, beyond his unique ability, Oscar was more than just a harrowing presence. He served as a companion, offering solace to residents who often felt lonely in the nursing home. His regular visits to those who simply needed a friend made him a cherished member of the community. Oscar's intuitive sense of when someone needed a comforting presence and his willingness to provide snuggles created an atmosphere of warmth and empathy in the nursing home. His legacy is not only as a gifted predictor of deaths but also as a symbol of unwavering companionship, reminding us of the profound impact animals can have on our lives.
For a dog who was afraid of thunder, Roselle the guide dog did her job calmly through the ear-splitting noise and crashing debris that engulfed the 78th floor of the North Tower on 9/11. Her owner, Michael Hingson, blind since birth, smelled jet fuel. Yet he trusted that his dog would not lead him into danger. Unsure if Roselle could hear him or see hand signals through the smoke, Hingson gave the command “Forward.” Stopping only for dog kisses to calm a panicked woman, the canine-human team led a group of people down more than 1,463 steps
Compassion story: After losing his parents, Roscoe, a 3-year-old orangutan, was so depressed he wouldn't eat and didn't respond to medical treatment. The vets thought he may die from sadness. The zookeepers found an old dog on the grounds in the park at the zoo where the orangutan lived and took the dog to the animal treatment center. The dog arrived at the same time the orangutan was there being treated.. The two lost souls met and have been inseparable ever since. The Orangutan found a new reason to live and each of them always tries his best to be a good companion to his newfound friend. They are together 24 hours a day in all activities. They live in Northern California where swimming is their favorite pastime. Although Roscoe (the orangutan ) is a little afraid of the water and needs his friend's help to swim. Together they have discovered the joy and laughter in life and the value of friendship
In 1989, a remarkable bond was formed in the heart of Costa Rica. Gilberto "Chito" Shedden, a local fisherman, stumbled upon a dying crocodile on the banks of the Reventazón River. The crocodile, later named Pocho, had been shot in the head by a cattle farmer. Chito took Pocho home and nursed him back to health, feeding him 30 kg of chicken and fish every week. But it wasn't just food that Pocho needed. Chito believed that "the crocodile needed my love to regain the will to live". He gave Pocho kisses and hugs, talked to him, petted him, and even slept with him. When Pocho's health improved, Chito released him into a nearby river. But Pocho refused to return to the wild and chose to stay with Chito. For over 20 years, Chito and Pocho swam together in the river outside Chito's home. They played together, with Chito hugging, kissing, and caressing the 16-foot-long crocodile. Pocho would even respond when Chito called his name. Their unique friendship caught the attention of people around the world. They performed a weekly act on Sunday afternoons in an artificial lake at Finca Las Tilapias in Siquirres, Costa Rica. The pair became famous after they began performing together. The story of Chito and Pocho is a testament to the incredible bond that can form between humans and animals. It's a reminder that every creature on this planet is capable of love and companionship. #ChitoAndPocho #UnlikelyFriends #AnimalLovers
In the year 2001, a heartwarming tale of friendship emerged from an unlikely place. A lion cub, a tiger cub, and a bear cub were discovered in the basement of a drug dealer’s house in Atlanta, Georgia. The cubs were terrified, malnourished, and riddled with parasites. In this dire situation, they clung to each other for comfort. Rescued by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, they were brought to Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit animal rescue in Locust Grove. Here, they were given a new lease on life. The sanctuary staff nursed them back to health and provided them with a safe and nurturing environment. As they grew, their bond only strengthened. They groomed each other, cuddled together, and played together. Despite their differences in species and the natural order in the animal kingdom, these three formed an inseparable bond. They became known as the BLT (bear, lion, tiger), and they never left each other’s sides. Their story is a testament to the power of friendship and survival. It shows us that even in the face of adversity and hardship, bonds can be formed that defy all odds. Today, their story continues to inspire and remind us of the unbreakable spirit of friendship.