"Gang of Feral Cats Attacks Woman, Dog in France"

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One more reason to love dogs: A gang of feral cats in France attacked a woman and her poodle, forcing both victims to seek medical attention for their injuries.

The cat-attack occurred Sunday (July 21) near the city of Belfort in eastern France. The 31-year-old woman was walking her dog near a wooded area when six felines set upon her, knocking her to the ground, The Independent reports.

The victim was treated for injuries at a nearby hospital where she was also given an injection for rabies. Her poodle was treated at a nearby veterinary clinic.

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"We must get rid of this scourge," Galliot said. "There are too many cats in the neighborhood, many of which are strays. There are also lots of children here. We don't want it to happen again."

http://news.discovery.com/animals/pets/feral-cats-attack-130727.htm
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hmmm...cats or children...?

[reformist2]

1. Cats aren't 'pack' or 'gang' animals. I have to say, my first reaction is that I don't believe it.

[stevenleser]

2. Hmmm, not sure I agree...

[Skip Intro]

3. I agree. I try to picture it and laugh every time.

It's like a bad SNL skit.

[Scootaloo]

6. Feral domestic cats form colonies, actually

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_cat#Colonies

Odds are these cats were actually attacking the dog, and the lady got caught in the "crossfire"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Still, they don't typically hunt or attack in packs.

It might have been some mother cats protecting kittens, though.

[Scootaloo]

8. "Pack" is a specific term, with animals.

A pack is a cohesive body of individual animals working together as a community or clan. I'll agree that feral cats don't do that. But there's nothing stopping a tribe of feral cats from all individually deciding to drive off the dog that's wandered into their midst (or kill and eat it, actually.)

They don't act in concert, but they would end up attacking as a group.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. That's possible. The way the article reads, though, it sounds like

they were talking about a concerted attack, which isn't typical cat behavior. If there was a cat attack, I would think it would be by some mother cats who individually concluded they needed to chase the dog away to protect their kittens. I doubt they considered eating the dog, since taking it down would require a concerted effort like the way lions hunt.

[ZombieHorde]

9. The ferel cats by my aparment building often stick together. nt

[Politicalboi]

4. Pit bull cats

Who knew. Death to ALL of them.

Is this for real? Cats don't usually confront unless you intimidate them and they feel in danger. But I have seen a rabid kitty in action.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=380753158690164&set=vb.136336876521150&type=2&theater

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Since when do cats travel in packs and attack people?

Since never, actually. The only cat that lives and hunts in groups is the lion. Domestic cats are solitary hunters who typically weigh no more than about 10 pounds (at least the feral ones) and whose prey consists of small rodents and birds. It is very hard to believe that a "pack" of 10-pound cats would get together to attack a human. Pictures or it didn't happen.

[ZombieHorde]

10. The ferel cats by my aparment building often stick together. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. But do they work together to take down large prey like lions?

[ZombieHorde]

13. I have never seen them hunt anything.

There is a lot with an abandoned barn next to my building. That is where they sleep at night, and I imagine there are mice and small snakes in that field.

[frylock]

14. f-lions