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Cody Dawg · May 24, 2006, 07:59 AM

Link

This cat attacks people leaving huge gashes and bites.

The owner does not keep him indoors. Finally, one lady was bitten so badly that criminal charges were filed against the owner and the only option for a plea is that prosecutors want the cat euthanized.

Personally, I think the cat should be taken away from the owner permanently and relocated where it will be kept indoors.

Any ideas?

turtle777 · May 24, 2006, 08:02 AM

Donate it to the Chinese takeaway. Case solved.

-t

MrsLarry · May 24, 2006, 08:07 AM

HA! This is just a few towns over from me, I was going to link the other day, but I didn't realize it was CNN-worthy.

I, however, don't want to get into it, so I'm sticking with 'no comment'. But I do love kitties.

starman · May 24, 2006, 08:07 AM

Prozac?

Severed Hand of Skywalker · May 24, 2006, 08:21 AM

Now people are scared of cats? Gimmie a break.

Cody Dawg · May 24, 2006, 08:41 AM

I dunno...mean cats can do some real damage. You sound like a person who has never really been attacked by a cat.

But, I do agree with you in a way...if that cat attacked me I'd kick it - hard.

zmcgill · May 24, 2006, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

Now people are scared of cats? Gimmie a break.

I'm not afraid of cats as much as i'm afraid of having my face clawed off by one well known for it. What the prosecuters want is the death penalty, but Cody Dawg is rooting for a life sentence. I say if the cat's proven itself to be detremental to society, get rid of it.

MacManMikeOSX · May 24, 2006, 08:46 AM

I don't understand fully grown men and women that get maulled by animals, if I was attacked I'd rip any animals f###ing head off, or at least pluck out its eyes (Kill Bill).

Eug Wanker · May 24, 2006, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

Now people are scared of cats? Gimmie a break.

scaught · May 24, 2006, 08:48 AM

and ambush the Avon lady as she was getting out of her car.

comedy genius!

zmcgill · May 24, 2006, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by MacManMikeOSX

I don't understand fully grown men and women that get maulled by animals, if I was attacked I'd rip any animals f###ing head off, or at least pluck out its eyes (Kill Bill).

I'm assuming you've never been attacked. It's one thing to say you'd do something, but it's quite another to go through with it. I can image if a cat was clawing my eyes out I probably wouldn't be thinking clearly and rationally.

MrsLarry · May 24, 2006, 08:50 AM

MacManMikeOSX · May 24, 2006, 08:50 AM

I was attacked once as a small child actually, ripped up my leg pretty bad just some agressive dog but I actually kicked it pretty hard with the other foot and it yellped and went away limping. Violence solves everything.

scaught · May 24, 2006, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by MacManMikeOSX

I was attacked once as a small child actually, ripped up my leg pretty bad just some agressive dog but I actually kicked it pretty hard with the other foot and it yellped and went away limping. Violence solves everything.

boy, i'll say.

dcmacdaddy · May 24, 2006, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I'm not afraid of cats as much as i'm afraid of having my face clawed off by one well known for it. What the prosecuters want is the death penalty, but Cody Dawg is rooting for a life sentence. I say if the cat's proven itself to be detremental to society, get rid of it.

Yeah, I'm with you. An animal known for violent and aggressive behavior towards humans, even if it is just a domestic house-cat, needs to be put down.

turtle777 · May 24, 2006, 08:56 AM

WhyTF can't they just declaw the effing cat ?

And pull it's teeth, if necessary.

-t

MacManMikeOSX · May 24, 2006, 09:00 AM

This reminds me of my favorite cat killer Bill Frist

ShortcutToMoncton · May 24, 2006, 09:10 AM

Take it out back with a nice little .22 and presto - problem solved.

greg

Socially Awkward Solo · May 24, 2006, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I'm not afraid of cats as much as i'm afraid of having my face clawed off by one well known for it. What the prosecuters want is the death penalty, but Cody Dawg is rooting for a life sentence. I say if the cat's proven itself to be detremental to society, get rid of it.

it is fuzzy and under a foot tall and you are scared of a little kitty?

Cody Dawg · May 24, 2006, 09:17 AM

I'm amused because I posted a thread about free roaming cats and said that any free roaming cat was liable to be taken to the dog pound and/or euthanized and all kinds of cat freaks came to the defense of cats.

This time around it's "kill the cat."

Go figure.

zmcgill · May 24, 2006, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Socially Awkward Solo

it is fuzzy and under a foot tall and you are scared of a little kitty?

To put it briefly, yes. I've got nothing against animals, I'll pet a cat if it comes up to me, but I don't want my face ripped off. Like others have said, I'll kick it if it attacks me.

RAILhead · May 24, 2006, 09:26 AM

Sounds like an ownership issue to me.

First off, it shouldn't be outside.
Second, if it's attacking people, it's a nuisance and should be removed.
Re: removal, let someone else have him or put him to sleep.

Eug Wanker · May 24, 2006, 09:33 AM

Cats can be quite scrappy. There was a news story a while back of a bobcat killing off neighbourhood cats. One cat disappeared, and then showed up a couple of days later with cuts and bruises in some places, but otherwise it was OK.

Then they found the bobcat. It had great big claw marks on it too. I guess the aforementioned housecat got the better of it.

(The bobcat was alive and OK, but it apparently didn't look like it did so well against that housecat.)

I can tell ya, I certainly wouldn't want to go up against a bobcat. If a little housecat can do that kind of damage to a bobcat, then it can do that kind of damage to a human.

Originally Posted by Socially Awkward Solo

it is fuzzy and under a foot tall and you are scared

abe · May 24, 2006, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Sounds like an ownership issue to me.

First off, it shouldn't be outside.
Second, if it's attacking people, it's a nuisance and should be removed.
Re: removal, let someone else have him or put him to sleep.

I'm with you on it being an ownership issue!

Get Oprah's Dog Behaviorist Guys, Caesar or whatever his name is and see if he can help train Lewis & Lewis' owner.

If that fails, there must be a nearby farmer who'd LOVE a good mouser to take up residence in his house/barn. On a farm Lewis would only attack (his natural instinct, mind you) actual prey.

Problem solved.

ThinkInsane · May 24, 2006, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by Socially Awkward Solo

it is fuzzy and under a foot tall and you are scared of a little kitty?

You ever see Shrek 2???

Anyway, they should euthanize the owner in place of the kitty.

Socially Awkward Solo · May 24, 2006, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by ThinkInsane

You ever see Shrek 2???

Anyway, they should euthanize the owner in place of the kitty.

Nope.

But I agree, the owner is at fault, put her to sleep.

Monique · May 24, 2006, 10:23 AM

I thought you guys were kidding about the Avon lady. This cat looks like a wild cat, like a cougar or something. It would better for kitty if it would be dead. And the owner looks coucou anyway.

ThinkInsane · May 24, 2006, 10:46 AM

You know, I'm not a cat guy by any means, but I kind of like this one. For one thing, the fact that this psycho-kitty is named Lewis strikes me as pretty funny. And after actually reading the article, I give a thumbs up for the devious little ****ers tactics. Rub up against someone while looking all cute and purring, and when they lower their defenses and go to pet him, he attacks. And stalking people from behind? That's hilarious. Of course, if he was wrapped around my head biting and scratching, I'm sure I wouldn't find it as amusing, but he ain't so it's all good.

MacManMikeOSX · May 24, 2006, 10:49 AM

I have a stray cat that lives in my yard, it keeps breeding more cats now it's got a whole extended family thing going. I'm always trying to kill them but they're pretty smart and keep the distance.

Cody Dawg · May 24, 2006, 10:50 AM

My parrot pretends to like you, puts her head down for you to scratch her, then BAM!

She nails you!

Well, she doesn't nail ME, but she'll bite people she doesn't like - like my son. She loves to torment him with pretending that THIS TIME she's going to be nice and affectionate...then WHAP and she takes a huge swipe at him with her one fang.

It's actually very funny.

abe · 11:02 AM

Nation obsessed with tale of the cat
Fairfield feline under house arrest now media celebrity

By ANDREW BROPHY abrophy@ctpost.com

Connecticut Post Online

FAIRFIELD — Elizabeth Oberhand, who lives next door to Lewis, the cat with a mountain lion's reputation, can't believe the media frenzy that has catapulted the so-called ferocious feline to international notoriety.
"It was on CNN this morning. It's ridiculous," Oberhand said Wednesday of Lewis' supposed reign of terror in a Holland Hill neighborhood. "The Associated Press probably got it on the wire and everybody ate it up."

Ruth Cisero, owner of the black-and-white, long-haired cat, said she was deluged with 120 phone calls from media outlets Tuesday after the story first appeared in the Connecticut Post, and another 80 called Wednesday, including the British Broadcasting Corp.

The Connecticut Post Web site with the story has received thousands of hits and e-mails from across the country have been flooding in to reporters.

"I have pages and pages of newspapers and people who want to come here and interview and take pictures of Lew," Cisero said. "All over the place they have covered this story, and I am totally shocked."

Reporters are so hungry for news about Lewis — who's under house arrest for attacking an Avon lady and two Sunset Circle women — that they're also besieging Lewis' closest neighbors for tales about his misadventures.

Stu Hadden, an accountant who lives next to Oberhand, said a Minneapolis radio station called him Wednesday and wanted him to talk on air about Lewis.

"I thought it was a gag," Hadden said. "I'm flabbergasted it's gotten this much coverage."

Tina Luglio, who lives next to Hadden, said her driveway's been packed with news vans from New York television stations.

Ironically, Hadden and Luglio said that until they read about the case Tuesday they didn't know anything about Lewis' attacks or the order by town animal-control officials that the cat be held under house arrest. "We hadn't seen him around lately, and we were wondering if he died or something," Hadden said.

Lewis' fame has spread far and wide via spots on TV news and radio, accounts on Internet sites such as the Drudge Report and MSN, and write-ups in national newspapers.

The nationally syndicated "Inside Edition" dispatched a crew to Cisero's home Wednesday and plans to air a segment on Lewis today. Jon Stewart's "Daily Show" also wants Lewis, said Ron Merly, Cisero's boyfriend.

Jim Nassetta, a friend of Merly's and a former cameraman on the "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" late-night talk show, said he's made overtures to get Lewis on that national show as well.

Cisero, a real estate agent, said she's overwhelmed by the media attention, but grateful she can tell Lewis' side of the story.

Cisero said she also opened her house to reporters because she worried her silence might lead people to think she is "a crazy cat person."

On Wednesday, Lewis lay quietly on a carpet by Cisero's living room window, staring at the forbidden outdoors and ignoring a photographer's attempt to shoot his full profile.

Thomas, an older and heavier cat who five years ago was followed by Lewis to Cisero's home — where she adopted him — seemed startled by all the strangers in the house. But Lewis took it all in stride.

While Thomas fled from a stranger's attempt to pet him, Lewis just bumped his nose into a reporter's shoe and turned to stare out the window.

"He's dying to get outside. I'm hoping he will adjust," Cisero said. She doubts Lewis' house arrest will ever be lifted, and said she's most worried about the possibility that authorities may order Lewis to be destroyed.

Sorry, VIDEO HAS EXPIRED

Cisero contends Lewis attacked one neighbor because she stepped into a standoff between Lewis and her cat. Cisero blamed another attack on a neighbor's attempt to shoo Lewis away from her home after Lewis' standoff with her cat.

Donna Greenstein of Melody Lane, the Avon saleswoman suing Cisero for $5,000, was visiting a nearby house when Lewis got to her, but Cisero said she may have stepped on Lewis' tail or closed a door on him.

Others have also complained about Lewis' aggressiveness, but Cisero said they weren't attacked and simply didn't like the cat's hunting skills.

Before his house arrest, Lewis was good at killing squirrels, birds and chipmunks, and some neighbors got sick of seeing Lewis with a bird in his mouth, Nassetta said.

Lewis' hunting and interest in other cats made him a pariah to some neighbors, and they took to throwing water and eggs at him, Nassetta said.

"Part of this bad reaction he is having to people is he has been tormented," Cisero said.

Oberhand, who moved next door to Cisero and Merly last summer, said Lewis never bothered her and let her pet him.

But Oberhand said Pepper, her 4-year-old Lhasa apso, often sat on her porch and barked at Lewis.

Cisero was charged with reckless endangerment after Lewis escaped from her home when he was under limited house arrest. She's to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court April 25.

http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_3654702#

abe · May 24, 2006, 11:08 AM

Watch the video of the local CBS affiliate's news story here.

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_087170103.html

zmcgill · May 24, 2006, 11:09 AM

Thank you, American media, for keeping in mind what's important.

Socially Awkward Solo · May 24, 2006, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Thank you, American media, for keeping in mind what's important.

Ya no kidding

RAILhead · May 24, 2006, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Thank you, American media, for keeping in mind what's important.

We forgot: what's important to you is what should be important to America.

Socially Awkward Solo · May 24, 2006, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Thank you, American media, for keeping in mind what's important.

Terrorists
Illegal Immigrants
Scratchy Kitties

zmcgill · May 24, 2006, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

We forgot: what's important to you is what should be important to America.

Nowhere did I say that, nor did I mean to imply that. I'm just saying that our media pretty much sucks. Real issues go under the radar every day, but hundreds of media outlets are in a frenzy over a cat. When my dog nipped the paper boy's ankle, we had to have him either leave town or be put to sleep. Yeah, it sucked a lot and I miss him a ton, but I didn't see thousands of cameras at my door. Why is this any different?

Millennium · 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

WhyTF can't they just declaw the effing cat ?

Declawing a cat is arguably quite cruel. Cats' claws aren't structured like fingernails; trimming them is trivial, but to actually remove the claw you have to also remove significant portions of the cats' paws. The process isn't unlike amputating all of the toes on a person.

There are, of course, more humane alternatives to declawing. For example, some companies make soft covers for cat and dog claws. However, I'm not so sure those would work here; although it would remove the threat the cat's claws pose, the cat is also known to bite.

I don't know if I'd demand that the cat be actually euthanized. If the owner were to simply keep the cat indoors, and possibly post a sign warning visitors that the cat was vicious, that ought to be enough. However, since the owner apparently refuses to do this, I'm not sure there's really much of an alternative.

turtle777 · May 24, 2006, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Millennium

Declawing a cat is arguably quite cruel.

More cruel than putting the cat to sleep ?

-t

Sourbook · May 24, 2006, 03:03 PM

If a renegade cat is their biggest problem, they live very charmed lives.

porieux · 05:33 AM

...

Cody Dawg · May 24, 2006, 03:38 PM

Desperate Housecats would be a great new television show.

brassplayersrock² · May 24, 2006, 03:46 PM

or not. anyways, if the cat is a menace than take him out is all i'm gunna say. i like cats, but if this guy is a known terror, than ether scrap him or the owner needs to stop thinking her cat (and i agree, the owner looks a little off) is her precious baby and get a clue. the entire declawing thing is well, yeah, cruel because of said above, but if its required, than its required. also, if said cat is declawed, than it shouldn't be outside to begin with, and that would solve many problems.

sidenote: oh and cody, thanks for posting something thats actually read worthy

Socially Awkward Solo · May 24, 2006, 03:54 PM

Just keep him in the house and put a sign in the window that says "Beware of cat".

End of story.

Kerrigan · May 24, 2006, 03:56 PM

Damn liberal media

Sourbook · May 24, 2006, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Desperate Housecats would be a great new television show.

nredman · May 24, 2006, 05:25 PM

slow news day

FeLiZeCaT · May 24, 2006, 05:33 PM

This world needs more Cat Huggers than Cat Haters.

I need a hug...

ghporter · May 24, 2006, 06:11 PM

The owner needs to do time. It may be too late for Lewis to be rehabilitated-it sounds like the owner made him that way. The "deviousness" of his affectionate advances, followed by an attack sounds a lot like the result of abuse to me. The cat wants attention, but has associated human hands with pain, so when he sees a hand coming at him, he attacks.

Did I say the owner needs to do time? I really think so. A lot of time.

MacManMikeOSX · May 24, 2006, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

The owner needs to do time. It may be too late for Lewis to be rehabilitated-it sounds like the owner made him that way. The "deviousness" of his affectionate advances, followed by an attack sounds a lot like the result of abuse to me. The cat wants attention, but has associated human hands with pain, so when he sees a hand coming at him, he attacks.

Did I say the owner needs to do time? I really think so. A lot of time.

Why do people from TX always think someone needs to do time for everything?