> If a cat attacked me and my dog as we were just walking by, I’d probably assume it had rabies...
Cats sometimes do that here in New Zealand, where there is no rabies at all. Some cats are just loco.
There’s a cat in our street like that. We call it the “Ghost Cat” — a huge fluffy white persian with no fear of dogs. Not even my huge German Shepherd who isn’t afraid of any living thing but she *is* afraid of the Ghost Cat.
We can be walking along at night, minding our own business, and the Ghost Cat will jump out at us, hiss, with all its fur standing on end, crazy glowing green eyes — just a few feet in front of us. Gives my German Shepherd one Hell of a fright. Me too, because it is always unexpected.
Ever seen a big German Shepherd evacuate herself completely in less than one second? I have — when my German Shepherd was out in the backyard “to do her business” at the same time the Ghost Cat decided to stage its latest attack. It was a very messy affair!
No question of rabies with this crazy animal: it’s just a big fluffy white cat with no Fear and a Death Wish. I wouldn’t dream of harming it.
It may not be rabies, but how can you be sure, especially when it’s an animal that you see living outside, day after day? If it does bite you, and you don’t catch it, you are the one who gets the rabies shots.
I punted a chihuahua who charged me and my dog a few months ago, kicked him halfway across the street. I don’t regret it, any more than I would regret beating a larger dog who attacked me. People need to control their animals.