Oscar is the Mountbatten Hospice Cat. A fluffy, six-year-old ginger, Oscar moved in to Mountbatten one year ago. Originally, he lived with Communications Head, Matthew White’s family. But the Whites have a dog and… Oscar had a bone to pick with the dog and things were not going smoothly. Here at Mountbatten, Oscar is happy and – very spoiled (editorial opinion). Oscar has the run of the entire hospice, the wards, hallways, the beautiful gardens and the CEO’s office. Staff had to keep an eye on Oscar’s diet after it transpired that residents were sharing their lunches with him.

One year on and Oscar is a fixture here and a celebrity figure. His very own Instagram page has, at last count, 512 followers.

Yesterday, Nigel showed Tia some of the Oscar-inspired art work that patients and family have created in Oscar’s honour.

Mountbatten’s Facebook Page recently reported on Oscar’s “night shift” work on the wards:

Here’s Oscar pulling a night shift and checking the vitals of one of our patients, Lou, who is currently on our inpatient unit. 

 ‘When he’s not working, he sneaks in for a cuddle.’ Said Lou. ‘I love his visits, and when my granddaughter comes to see me, the first thing she says is, ‘Is Oscar here?”

 Oscar said: ‘I get a lot of flack for sleeping all the time, but people don’t realise how hard I work at night, caring for patients and bringing joy to anyone lucky enough to spend time with me.’ 

 ‘Being a hospice cat is not all Dreamies and belly rubs, you know.’

Happy First Anniversary to an exceptionally caring cat!