Making Rounds with Oscar, David Dosa MD, MPH
Making Rounds with Oscar, David Dosa MD, MPH
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Making Rounds with Oscar
The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Author: David Dosa MD, MPH

Narrator: Ray Porter

Unabridged: 6 hr 34 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/02/2010

Synopsis

An otherwise ordinary cat—he’d sooner give you his back or a sideways glance than curl up on your lap—Oscar has the uncanny ability to predict when people are about to die. Adopted by staff members at Steere House nursing home when he was a kitten, the three-year-old tabby has presided over the deaths of more than twenty-five nursing home residents thus far. His mere presence at the bedside is viewed by physicians and nursing-home staff as an almost absolute indicator of impending death, considered a blessing because it allows staff members to notify families that the end is near and because he provides companionship to those who would otherwise have died alone.Dr. Dosa uses Oscar and the stories of several patients to examine end-of-life care as it exists today for the family and caregivers of dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Heartfelt, inspiring, and sometimes even funny, Making Rounds with Oscar allows listeners into a world that is often misunderstood and rarely seen from the outside.

About David Dosa MD, MPH

Dr. David Dosa is a geriatrician and an assistant professor of medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. An essay he wrote for the New England Journal of Medicine was the basis of this book. He lives with his family in Barrington, Rhode Island.

About Ray Porter

Ray Porter is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator and fifteen-year veteran of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including Almost Famous, ER, and Frasier.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Christine on May 21, 2021

One of my friends in town lent me this book about a year ago. I put it on my closet shelf and forgot about it until last week. In haste to get the book back to its rightful owner, I moved it to the top of the TBR list. This turned out to be a great move as I just loved it! Making Rounds with Oscar ad......more

Goodreads review by Julie on September 27, 2010

It seems I am in the minority here, but I thought this book was just okay. It was billed as a story about a cat's ability to sense when dementia patients in a nursing home were approaching death and his dedication to remaining with them during their final hours. The real focus of the book, however,......more

Goodreads review by Jensownzoo on May 10, 2010

As a book about a cat, it was disappointing. As a book about dementia, it was a success.......more

Goodreads review by Jeannie on June 21, 2015

I absolutely adore this book! Watching my own mother pass away from cancer and seeing how her dog interacted with her I believe that Oscar has that special gift too...the gift to comfort someone in the darkest of times. We all must die alone but with an animal lying by your side, purring or just snu......more

Goodreads review by ~☆~Autumn on September 21, 2019

I started reading this about one pm when my husband carried it home from the library for me and just finished it. I was unable to put it down. It is an amazing story about an unusual cat. He lives in a unit for those with dementia and helps when someone is dying. He knows when someone is going to di......more

Quotes

“I love this book—Oscar has much to teach us about empathy and courage. I couldn’t put it down.” Sarah Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants

“Both touching and humorous, [this book] isn’t just about Oscar. It’s about listening and letting go. It’s also about the inner workings of a nursing home for Alzheimer’s patients, the people who work there, the rhythm of their days, and the six other cats who also call it home, cats who also bring comfort to the dementia patients but do not share Oscar’s talents of premonition.” USA Today

“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.” Publishers Weekly

“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

“Dosa paints a realistic picture of the complex physical, psychological, and emotional challenges associated with dementia…This audiobook will appeal to family members and caregivers of dementia patients; physicians, nurses, social workers, patient advocates, and other health care professionals; animal lovers; and humanitarians from all walks of life for its poignant insights into the power of the human spirit and the bond between humans and animals. Audie nomated and film and television actor Ray Porter brings the text to life with his excellent fully-voiced narration. Kudos to Porter on his Eastern European accent in particular, which, to my ear, was pitch perfect.” SoundCommentary.com

“Oscar captured my heart, and Dr. Dosa opened my mind. This extraordinary book offers a physician’s perspective on death and dying, as well as insights on family love, companionship without question, and the life lessons that only the old can provide. As if that weren’t enough, it proves the old adage: there are no ordinary cats.” Brenda Copeland, editor

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