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by kathleencochrane from Cleveland

Last Post 497 days, 18 hours Ago


My cat attack
Mar 14, 2007 | 3:21 PM
Category: News
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Tuesday night turned out to be quite a night! I was covering a story about animal abuse at the Geauga Humane Society. A couple, convicted of killing two kittens, was sentenced to a week in jail, and 40 hours of community service at the Humane Society,. We were doing a story on what this couple would actually do at the shelter and the hope for reform.

I spent the day at the shelter, held several cats and petted some dogs. Everything was fine. Then, we showed up for my 10pm live shot. We were the lead story and the executive director of the shelter told me "Becky", the cat, would be a good cat for me to hold. Now, Becky, like many of the cats at the shelter, is an abused cat. Someone cut her tail off and she has been through many surgeries and lots of trauma. I held her a few times before the live shot and she was getting a little anxious.

I didn't pick up Becky again until seconds before my live shot. As I was reading my intro, and my voice began to project and the camera lights came on, Becky freaked. She turned and attacked my face, scratching my left cheek and the side of my head. I was obviously shocked and dropped the cat and stared at the camera, like a deer in head lights. Then, before they rolled my story, I started to laugh. That was a laugh, not a cry!

I am one of those people that instantly laughs when someone falls down (even though I don't mean to and am genuily concerned if someone falls, but the laugh always comes first!) or has a mishap, so maybe this was karma that a cat attacked me on live television!

There were several warning signs and I should have put the cat down sooner. However, since I'm not really a cat person ( I have a dog...a schnoodle) and since I was concentrating on my story, I missed the warning signs. Had I just been holding the cat without trying to report the news, I would have noticed the warning signs and set Becky free!

As for me, I have about three scratches on my face, (the cat has her claws) but other than that, I'm fine....just a little embarrassed! As for Becky, she is up for adoption and is looking for a loving home..

If you're looking for a laugh and want to see my most embarrassing moment,  check out the link below.  http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?c
ontentId=2670282&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY
&pageId=3.2.1

56 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 56
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Wernerd630 read my blog view my photos
Mar 14, 2007 | 5:24 PM

Cats don't usually like being held while you are standing. I guess you found out the hard way.
bartonprecious read my blog
Mar 14, 2007 | 6:28 PM

Sorry about your incident. My son was attacked by our family cat years ago. (provoked by a cat outside). That wasn't to funny. To this day he has a scar on his neck. Glad you're ok!
2sadlup read my blog view my photos
Mar 14, 2007 | 6:58 PM

Kathleen,

You have a lot more comments on YouTube and some of them are not so nice. You did fine, I have to admit it was pretty funny and I was waiting for the cat to do something, because I knew it was not happy.

Keep up the good work! Reporters sometimes get in sticky situations. At least it was a cat and not a tiger!
gjsrs read my blog
Mar 14, 2007 | 7:13 PM

I saw what happended, when it happended and thought you did a very good job of handling the situation. Live TV has it's ups and downs and for sure you can never tell what is going to happen when you introduce a animal into the mix. Good work.
lovefoxnews1975
Mar 14, 2007 | 7:14 PM

Kathleen,
We all have moments like this that we just can't predict. At work about three weeks ago a co-worker of mine bought some "cheetos" from one of those older vending machines that got STUCK (halfway out/in) After several attempts to vibrate the machine to get the cheetos to come down it failed,I figured one good shake would take care of it by Kicking the SIDE of the glass area,needless to say I mis kicked and my foot went right through the glass and shattered it,thank goodness it was tempered glass or else I would have been cut up all over but I know how you must have felt at that moment,they happen so fast!
shikamaru read my blog view my photos
Mar 14, 2007 | 7:18 PM

Face it, you cried out like a starving toddler when that cat slapped the snot out of you!! Bwahaha!!! Stick to puppies.
CAKhomelodge read my blog view my photos
Mar 14, 2007 | 7:19 PM

Kathleen, I enjoyed reading your story, since it wasn't quite finished on live tv. It was funny( at one point in our lives we've all been there,that's why we can laugh) You mentioned several key points,the cats abuse, the lights coming on, the smells of other animals on you, & your attention was on getting your story told, so you missed the warning signals from the cat, good points. I learned from your comments good reporting-and you hung in there & could even enjoy a laugh with your views. thanks hope the cat gets a loving home .I have 2, & 2 dogs.take care. CAK
ATLClevelander
Mar 14, 2007 | 8:44 PM

You are famous everywhere now - we have even heard about this in ATL...

I think it's a conspiracy. Last weekend, there was the cat in CA who attacked his owner, sending her to the hospital with 20 cat bites. Now Becky. They are mobilizing and rising up against The Man!

Maybe I should lock up my two cats at night? We joke that they plot how to kill us in our sleep. If they are part of the Cat Underground Network, maybe they really are plotting.
MTM624
Mar 14, 2007 | 9:11 PM

I thought this was awesome only because I think you are a stuck up and mean. I remeber earlie yhis winter when you were reporting live, and you had a feed problem. You were really rude to your camera man. I hope he was the same one yesterday so he could have a good laugh too!!!
Susie5197
Mar 14, 2007 | 10:26 PM

Kathleen, I applaud your being able to "get back on the horse"..what a pro! Keep up the great reporting!!
Love2Bake view my photos
Mar 14, 2007 | 10:41 PM

Kathleen,

I was on the phone when your attack happened. I wished I could see it again so I could hear what happened. To my luck I recorded the whole thing. I watched it again and again. I was laughing so hard I was near tears! Thanks for a good laugh! Glad you're OK!
KC8TYM read my blog view my photos
Mar 15, 2007 | 7:30 AM

Kathleen, We sat here that night watching you do tha live story. We watched as the cat become increasingly agitated. We all knew what was about to happen. All the signs were there. That cat was pissed! Then it happened. That cat attacked you and after the cat was done, I swear you were crying! hope your scratches heal soon!
Motox99 read my blog view my photos
Mar 15, 2007 | 8:56 AM

I don't care if you're a "Cat Person" or not. How can you not know when a cat is growling, hissing, even screaming to be let down and left alone, you can sit and say that it was having Fun. And to try to blow it off and say "You're not a cat person" Unreal. Maybe next time since you're not a 'cat person' just stand outside of the cage and point. That way the cats will stay safe.


I still say I HOPE the chance for adoption isn't hindered by this. That poor cat.
udderlyalady read my blog
Mar 15, 2007 | 9:10 AM

Kathleen, like you i laugh first, so when it happened i laughed but was also horrified at the same time( weird i know LOL ) i have heard cats making that noise right before a fight so we were waiting for something to happen , just didnt expect it to be on live tv. So Sorry!!!
hang in there! keep doing a great job and ignore all those "cat experts" out there. what happened could have happened to anyone, reguardless if they are a dog or cat person.
thanks for doing a great job every day!!

FOX 8 RULES
udderlyalady read my blog
Mar 15, 2007 | 9:10 AM

Kathleen, like you i laugh first, so when it happened i laughed but was also horrified at the same time( weird i know LOL ) i have heard cats making that noise right before a fight so we were waiting for something to happen , just didnt expect it to be on live tv. So Sorry!!!
hang in there! keep doing a great job and ignore all those "cat experts" out there. what happened could have happened to anyone, reguardless if they are a dog or cat person.
thanks for doing a great job every day!!

FOX 8 RULES
JR44
Mar 15, 2007 | 10:25 AM

Wow Kathleen, MTM624 seemed to be a little upset with you. I have enjoyed your reports and have never thought you seemed stuck up or mean. You do a great job. Keep up the good work.
Pablo_Kielbasa read my blog view my photos
Mar 15, 2007 | 10:43 AM

I'd like to see a catfight between Suz Stratford and Stacey Bell! Watch the fur fly!

^-^ rEEr!~~
rmarkle read my blog view my photos
Mar 15, 2007 | 10:48 AM

I didn't think this was very funny because you might have hurt the chances of that cat being adopted. I do hope that this cat will find a loving home.

You had all the warning signs and didn't listen. Hopefully you have learned from this and when you are reporting something you educate yourself about it before you go on air so this doesn't happen again. If you don't know how to deal with something then maybe you should pass on the story.
whatchagonedo
Mar 15, 2007 | 12:20 PM

hahahahahahahahahahahaha well done
thechair
Mar 15, 2007 | 1:34 PM

that cat was "onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn" strong!
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kathleencochrane

I've been in Cleveland for two years now and I really love it. I moved here from Charlotte, NC, so it took me a while to adjust to the winters, but I've found ways to cope! When I'm not reporting for Fox 8, I enjoy traveling, (mainly to see my parents in Hilton Head, South Carolina) going to Cleveland sporting events (Cavs, Browns, Indians) and eating out! I'm not much of a cook, but I love a good restaurant! I hope this blog will give you some more information on the stories I cover every day and I always welcome your thoughts and ideas!

Member Since: 3/14/2007


 

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