Feral Cat Debbie's Best Christmas Gift to a Lady
Among Animals’ Psychic Abilities is Sensing their own Imminent Death
Nov 10, 2009
James Herriot is the pen name of the late James Alfred “Alf” Wight, British veterinarian and author. He’s well-known for his true animal stories collected during his practice, some of which are very humorous. He’s written over a dozen books and it’s evident to readers that he loved animals.
Herriot’s Initial Meeting with Debbie
Mrs. Ainsworth called the veterinarian to tend to one of her three basset hounds. He saw the small black cat sitting by the warmth of the hearth and said he didn’t know the woman had a cat.
Ainsworth introduced him to Debbie, saying she stopped by several times a week, to eat the dinners they offered, then left. Herriot noted that Debbie had stayed by the fireside. He was told that, from time to time, she did.
Herriot Makes Friends with Debbie
Herriot visited the Ainsworth home frequently and observed the cat. The dogs were used to the cat which was evidenced by two of them lazily sniffing her and the third, waking up, taking a peek at her, then nodding back to sleep. Debbie sat by the fire and ignored the basset hounds.
Herriot decided to try to make friends with her and stretched his hand toward her. She leaned away. He talked softly to her and was able to pet her cheek with one finger. Debbie responded by rubbing his hand with her head.
Debbie’s Best Christmas Gift a Kitten
Ainsworth called Herriot on Christmas morning. She was apologetic, but he could hear the distress in her voice. She said there was something very wrong with Debbie and he should hurry over. When he arrived, he saw Debbie lying motionless on the hearth and a small black kitten snuggled next to her. He asked what happened and was told Debbie hadn’t visited in several weeks.
When the cat came in, she was carrying a kitten, then went by the fireside put the kitten on the hearth and lay down beside it. Herriot examined Debbie and discovered she had a malignant tumor. Ainsworth asked if she should be put to sleep. There was no need to because she was in a coma and would soon die. The kind lady kneeled down, stroked Debbie and cried. After Debbie passed away, Ainsworth picked up the kitten and said he was the best Christmas gift she had ever received.
Debbie’s Christmas Gift, the Kitten Buster’s Antics
The feline earned his name. He was the alpha animal who stalked the mansion and tormented the bassets. Herriot was on his rounds during the next Christmas when he drove by the Ainsworth residence, he heard her call out to him to join them in a drink. The veterinarian watched Buster run up to each dog, poke the animal with his paw and dart away.
Buster skipped up to the youngest dog and bopped him with both paws. The basset rolled over and briefly wrestled with him. Ainsworth got a rubber ball and asked Herriot to join her in the garden. She threw the ball and the cat retrieved it while the dogs watched with looks of condescension on their faces. They spoke about Debbie and the joy she had given them. Perhaps, it was one of Herriot’s best Christmas gifts.
Debbie Sensed her Demise, but Animals also Sense Other’s Deaths
There have been many cases of animals sensing their demise by going to a favorite place to die or reaching out for a final petting. They also sense deaths of others. Oscar, a cat in a Rhode Island nursing home made headlines because of his knowing when patients would die. And there are some who firmly believe that it’s not a superstition that dogs howl when a person’s death is imminent.
Articles Related to Debbie’s Best Christmas Gift
People who liked this article might want to read Dog's Death Premonitions and Grief, along with Oscar's Feline Death Omen and What is Anpsi Psychic Abilities of Animals.
Source:
James Herriot’s Cat Stories, James Herriot, (St. Martin’s Press, 1994).
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