I have heard of both dogs and cats that seem to know when a patient’s time in this sphere is coming to a close.
Maybe it’s a certain scent, but then, what makes that cat or dog seem so eager to offer comfort, even ‘protection’ for that person at that most critical time? Why to the animals seem to care?
That’s the part which remains unexplained and open to speculation.
Over the years, I have heard more than once of nursing homes that have cats that will make the rounds and visit patients. Certain ones can sense when a patient is dying & they will stay with that patient, lying on the bed with them. The cats are usually such accurate predictors of eminent death that at least one nursing home calls the patient’s family when this happens.