The Internet quickly became a repository for all things cat-related, and now, thanks to a 22-pound Himalayan kitty from Portland, Oregon, and an accompanying parody Twitter account, cats have once again have climbed to the top of the Internet's hierarchy. How come? Lux, the feline in question, has a 'history of violence,' with the aggressive animal holding his family hostage - and frightening them enough to warrant a 911 call.
Sunday night saw the family's 7-month-old baby boy pull the cat's tail (playfully or accidentally, we imagine), only for Lux to swat the baby on the forehead, leaving a scratch. Lee Palmer, one of the owners, proceeded to kick Lux as a deterrent - at which point the cat flipped 'over the edge,' forcing Palmer, the baby, and Palmer's partner Teresa Barker into the bedroom. Smokey the dog even joined the family, tucked away from Lux.
Palmer's call to 911 can be heard at The Oregonian, with highlights including: "We're trapped; he won't let us out of our door... [he] has gone over the edge. He's trying to attack us -- he's very hostile. He's at our door. He's charging us."
Officers from the Portland Police Bureau were dispatched to assist the family, though they maintained a sense of humor about the unorthodox ordeal. "Officers were able to outwit the high-strung Himalayan... Officers then told the family that it was safe to come out of the bedroom," read the police report. "The cat remained behind bars in the custody of the family and officers cleared the scene and continued to fight crime elsewhere in the city."
Though the cat poses a risk to the baby, Palmer and Barker hope to keep him. Lux will, however, be receiving treatment from a veterinarian as well as a pet psychologist in a bid to rehabilitate his behavior. While offers have been pouring (or should that be purring?) in from charitable netizens to adopt him, the family is nonetheless adamant that they'll be keeping Lux, and ensuring he gets the help he needs. "We're not getting rid of him right now," said Palmer. "He's been part of our family for a long time."
