Crazed cat is stalking people in rural Florida community, cops say. Two hospitalized

A deranged cat is stalking people in one North Florida community, and the attacks have been serious enough to send two people to hospital emergency rooms, according to the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office.

It may be rabid, investigators say. Then again, it may just be one very mean cat.

Either way, a warning has been issued in Luraville, about 80 miles southeast of Tallahassee, that people on foot could be the next target.

“During two separate incidents, residents exercising and walking on 174th Street in the area were attacked by a feral cat. Both residents received injuries serious enough that they had to seek medical treatment at local hospitals,” the sheriff’s office said in a May 24 Facebook post.

“Animal Control has set traps in the area and have attempted to locate the feral cat but have been unsuccessful at this time.”

The area where the attacks occurred is an unincorporated crossroads community, with a mix of forest and farm land.

Investigators say both attacks occurred in the past week. Details about the victims and their injuries were not released.

Police also have not provided a description of the cat, leaving people stumped on which community felines are friend or foe.

“I know that if I just got attacked, a picture (of the cat) would be the last thing on my mind,” Chrissy Ray wrote on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.

“Cat running toward you trying to bite you is the best description,” Paul Gamble posted.

“Nightmare material!” Dianne Herring posted on Facebook.

Social media reaction to the warning has focused largely on how out of character such attacks are for feral cats, a term for cats that are “unsocialized” due to a lifetime living outdoors.

Ferals are tense, nocturnal, often live in colonies and prefer to avoid humans, Alleycat.org. reports. “Most feral cats are fearful of people and are not likely to ever become a lap cat or enjoy living indoors,” the site says.

This story was originally published May 26, 2023 at 4:42 AM with the headline "Crazed cat is stalking people in rural Florida community, cops say. Two hospitalized."