I AM rubbing off on this town.

[ch85us2001]

Well, first a dog got sued, then the Gumball theivery (hey, that just reminds me, Ive got the Gumball Rally on Tivo!!!!!!!!!), and now this. All in my hometown. This place is going crazy.





COLUMBUS, Ohio - Police aren't sure how else to explain it. But when an officer walked into an apartment Thursday night to answer a 911 call, an orange-and-tan striped cat was lying by a telephone on the living room floor. The cat's owner, Gary Rosheisen, was on the ground near his bed having fallen out of his wheelchair.


Rosheisen said his cat, Tommy, must have hit the right buttons to call 911.

"I know it sounds kind of weird," Officer Patrick Daugherty said, unsuccessfully searching for some other explanation.

Rosheisen said he couldn't get up because of pain from osteoporosis and ministrokes that disrupt his balance. He also wasn't wearing his medical-alert necklace and couldn't reach a cord above his pillow that alerts paramedics that he needs help.

Daugherty said police received a 911 call from Rosheisen's apartment, but there was no one on the phone. Police called back to make sure everything was OK, and when no one answered, they decided to check things out.

That's when Daugherty found Tommy next to the phone.

Rosheisen got the cat three years ago to help lower his blood pressure. He tried to train him to call 911, unsure if the training ever stuck.

The phone in the living room is always on the floor, and there are 12 small buttons — including a speed dial for 911 right above the button for the speaker phone.

"He's my hero," Rosheisen said.
-From Yahoo!-Most Veiwed Story.

[Galuf the Dwarf]

That is one gifted cat.

I bet if he could, my little buddy Barney would do the same if I was in that situation.

[TonyMontana1638]

Wow, that's amazing: how in the hell did this guy even go about training the cat to hit the buttons in the right order?

I've said it once before but it bears repeating (*guitar riff*) that this is something that could only happen within 50 miles of Chus .

[Magrus]

Cats really are bright animals, they just process information differently than we do. My first cat woke my father up when our house was filling up with Carbon Monoxide during a horrible storm in the early 90's. We had to call 911, and the doctors said if our cat hadn't had woken my father up, we would have gone past the stage where we could wake up and would have layed there passed out until we died. I felt absolutely horrible when we couldn't save him from cancer.

[dragon wench]

I concur with Mag,
cats are extremely bright and empathic animals.

I haven't had a cat save my life or anything, but when I feel really emotionally down, or physically ill, my cats will only leave my side to go to their dishes or use the litter, and then they come immediately back.
One of my cats, Luna, a little calico, is especially sensitive, and she will very obviously respond to people I care about. If I am writing an email to somebody who means a lot to me, she'll jump up onto my desk, purr, and rub herself against me. It's really uncanny. And, I've taken note, she only does this when I write to particular individuals.

Similarly, when close friends visit, even if Luna has never met them before, she is very attentive to them. Whereas, if total strangers are in the house, or it is somebody I either dislike or feel neutrally towards, she disappears.

[ch85us2001]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyMontana1638 Wow, that's amazing: how in the hell did this guy even go about training the cat to hit the buttons in the right order? [

Well, he probably put a treat on the button!!!!!!!!!!!

First it implies that the cat actually dialed it, then it says there was a speed dial button.

I ought to go down there and ask the cat.

@ Mag and DW, yes, I agree (Some) cats are very smart, mine are always waiting for my mother at the door around the time she gets home.

[Magrus]

*nods* Cats are wonderful little animals. I get along better with them than people. Luna was the nickname I called a girlfriend a few years ago. Your cat sounds a lot like her.

Buddy involves himself with anyone we are comfortable with. Whether it is dragging his toy out to play around us, slapping in front of one of us to demand attention, or attacking someone for a chair to sit in to be a part of the group. If he doesn't like someone, or we don't however, he will not hesitate to make them feel unwelcome. He isn't shy, or afraid of anything and has been known to draw blood on guests at parties we have throw who become too rowdy and nasty. Generally, our closer friends can tell who I'm tossing out the door when they see the cat attacking him.

My older cat who is here at my mothers avoids most people aside from me. The only time she has come around me when I have company was when, hmm...of her own free will I think the only times were when Kimmy and Jenica were here. Two people I cared deeply for, the rest, I had to grab her to spend time with her with people around.

[dragon wench]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magrus *nods* Cats are wonderful little animals. I get along better with them than people. Luna was the nickname I called a girlfriend a few years ago. Your cat sounds a lot like her. My older cat who is here at my mothers avoids most people aside from me. The only time she has come around me when I have company was when, hmm...of her own free will I think the only times were when Kimmy and Jenica were here. Two people I cared deeply for, the rest, I had to grab her to spend time with her with people around.

It really amazes me just how attuned to our feelings cats are..

lol! Regarding Luna!
Thing is, Luna and I already have a very close bond, my SO refers to her as my "familiar." She is rarely very far from me, and I am the only person whom she allows to stroke her belly. Anyone else who tries it receives a snarl and a scratch.


@Chu,
so, see, your effect is not quite as alarming as you thought

[Phreddie]

That is pretty amazing, though in my (pet's) defense, dogs got it over cats on companionship, all cats that i know rarely have anything to do with their owners (even when im not ther), although, my dogs (atleast the brain damaged one) would just sit there and bark at me, the brain damaged on would turn me into a new chew toy... but the other three are smart enough to sit on me to keep me warm, and make sure im not lonely...

[Magrus]

Meh, when a cat chooses to be with you, it's because they really like you. When a dog is around you, it's because it knows you'll keep it warm and fed. Cats are independant, and to have one be willing to spend time with you means a great deal. With dogs, they were chosen, and bred to be docile, loyal and obediant. So long as you don't beat or starve them, they'll be grinning and wagging their tails at anyone who is introduced to them by their owner.

[dragon wench]

Also, cats are, in fact, pretty sociable.
Ours are usually in the same vicinity as us, and will quite frequently rub up against us or jump upon our laps for affection.

Okay, cats don't do things like play fetch.. but that is because they have far more dignity than dogs...

[Magrus]

Rachel taught Buddy to play fetch. He'd even put the little foil ball she'd toss into a hat or shoe at her feet if she told him to.

[dragon wench]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magrus Rachel taught Buddy to play fetch. He'd even put the little foil ball she'd toss into a hat or shoe at her feet if she told him to.

Buddy will likely get drummed out of The Feline Association of Appropriate Behaviour then

[Magrus]

He'd likely attempt to eat those who organized it too.

[Phreddie]

My dogs, dont grin and wag tails, they bark, loudly, and jump on whoever is at the door. and we do not have one purebreed dog that came perfectly healthy, or came to us by choice:
OLdest dog, lab/malamute mix, sheds like no other.
Third oldest: mix between a standard and a mini dachshund, wont shut up!
second oldest: shes our 'oops' dog, vet asked if wed take her in for a few days until we could find her a new home, that was last june. Pure bred (AFAIK) lab, pees on everything.
youngest: Dad's christmas came early present (dec 19), went to hospital for two weeks on the 20th with parvo , made it oout alive, but slightly brain damaged, dumbest dog i have ever seen (although she did learn how to climb stairs the other day) another dachshund.

Oh, and they are all dad's fault.


mmm.... but mosst are smart, an dependable, they even bring us squirrels from time to time, a few birds, and the odd chipmunk. lizards when we were in florida.

Every house needs a good dog, that can bark for help, there are more stories of dogs waking up there owners to get out of a burning/gaseous/ dangerous house than of cats dailing 911!