Portland cat attack: shelter takes in pet who 'charged' family

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/18/portland-cat-attack-lux-family-shelter

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A 22lb house cat that trapped a Portland, Oregon, family in a bedroom this month has been taken to the Multnomah County Animal Services shelter, a week after the cat and its family made headlines around the world.

Shelter director Mike Oswald told the Oregonian the family called animal services on Monday and asked workers to come get the cat named Lux. He said the family hasn’t made a final decision on whether to keep Lux.

Owner Lee Palmer told a 911 dispatcher March 9 that he kicked the cat after it scratched his seven-month-old baby. The cat then went ballistic, leading Palmer and his girlfriend to barricade themselves, their baby and the family dog in the bedroom.

On the 911 call, Palmer tells the dispatcher he kicked the cat “in the rear” to protect his child. Palmer says the animal then “just went off over the edge” – leading Palmer and his girlfriend to barricade themselves, their baby and the family dog in the bedroom for safety.

The cat can be heard screeching in the background of the call as Palmer says in a panicked voice: “He’s charging us. He’s at our bedroom door.” Palmer also tells the dispatcher the cat has been violent in the past.

The family said last week they had brought in a pet therapist to address the animal’s behavior problems.