Whether you’re on an adventurous safari
in the African Savanna,
enjoying your morning run
on the mountains,
or chilling on your couch,
you're in danger of a cat attack.
Cats come in all different
shapes and sizes,
and so do their methods of killing you.
And the most lethal kind could be
sitting in your lap right now.
Every year, wild cats kill
dozens of people around the globe.
That might not surprise you, but this will.
House cats,
just like your beloved Mr. Whiskers,
are responsible for 66,000
emergency room visits in the U.S.
every year.
So today, we're looking
at the top six deadliest felines
and what you could do
to survive their attacks.
If you’re a cat owner, you know this.
They’re adorable to look at.
But if you pet them the wrong way,
you’ll earn a painful bite
from those long, thin, sharp teeth.
And I hope you’re
taking cat bites seriously.
Cat scratch fever is a common illness
that cat saliva spreads to humans.
The symptoms include a blister
or swelling on the site of the wound,
fever and body aches.
According to the CDC,
500 people get hospitalized
for this condition in the U.S. each year.
Pasteurella multocida bacteria
can infect soft tissues.
And if left untreated, it can cause sepsis.
Almost 90% of cats have this bacteria
in their mouths,
so next time think twice
before you upset that little fluff ball.
Also known as wildcats,
bobcats aren’t one of the biggest cats
out there.
But never underestimate them.
Weighing no more than 15 kg (33 lb),
bobcats are strong hunters
and can kill animals much bigger
than themselves,
like you.
They can pounce and kill prey
from a distance of 3 m (10 ft).
These cats are native to North America
and live in almost every habitat,
including forests, swamps
and even suburban areas.
Kristy and Happy Wade
from North Carolina, U.S.,
know that all too well.
In April 2021, the couple was
in their driveway unloading groceries
from the car
when an aggressive wildcat
attacked Kristy.
Happy grabbed the animal
and threw it across the yard.
But the ferocious cat wouldn’t give up
until Happy shot and killed it.
Tests confirmed that the unusually
combative animal had rabies.
The couple needed the rabies vaccine.
This is the mountain lion or panther,
more commonly known as a cougar.
It’s the most widely distributed
large mammal
on the North American continent.
Mountain lions are generalist predators.
They will eat any animal they can catch,
from insect to elk,
and even the occasional hiker.
If you come face-to-face with a cougar,
never turn your back on it or try to run.
Raise your arms over your head
to make yourself look bigger.
Shout whatever comes to mind
to keep the animal distracted.
If none of that works,
be prepared to fight back
with all the strength you have.
These intimidating big cats
can reach the size of 90 kg (200 lb)
and a length of 2.1 m (6.8 ft),
excluding their tails.
Leopards are nocturnal and solitary.
They spend their days resting in trees
and hunt at night.
If you encounter a hungry leopard,
there’s no guarantee
you’ll make it out alive,
so listen carefully.
Don’t make direct eye contact
with a leopard.
Try to remain calm and slowly back away.
That will let it know you aren’t a threat.
Leopards don’t make mock charges,
so if it looks like it’s coming for you,
it's game on.
Fight back.
Protect your neck,
and try to hurt its eyes, nose or ears.
This deadly feline with incredible hair
is the world's second-biggest cat.
Male lions can weigh up to 190 kg (420 lb)
and grow 5.8 m (10 ft) long,
including their tails.
These cats can be found
in a lot of habitats
but they prefer the savanna,
grassland and open woodland.
A hungry lion will attack you.
Humans are slow and have
no fangs or horns.
So you, my friend, are an easy target.
If you find the king of the jungle nearby,
you might want to run as fast as you can.
But don’t do it.
This cat can run at 80 km/h (50 mph).
That’s almost twice the speed of
the fastest human in history.
And chances are, you aren’t Usain Bolt.
So stay put,
puff yourself up and make a lot of noise.
Their strong, sharp claws
can behead you with one swipe.
Adult tigers are 70% muscle.
And they can weigh up to 360 kg (800 lb),
earning them the title of
the world's biggest cat.
And they're the most ferocious.
Some tigers have developed
a taste for humans.
They’re known as man-eaters,
and you’re their favorite food.
In the Sundarban area of
southeastern India
and southwestern Bangladesh,
tigers kill up to 250 people every year.
If a tiger puts you on the menu,
you're in grave danger.
Tigers have pulled sleeping people
from their homes.
These strong swimmers also
drag people from boats.
However, one place they can't
drag you from is the top of a tree.
Unlike other jungle cats,
tigers cannot climb trees,
so you can stay up there until
the tiger leaves
and then get to safety.
Well done.
You survived the deadliest cats.
Most of these felines can be avoided
by just staying inside, except one.
That's right,
you forgot about Mr. Whiskers.
While you've been watching this video,
he's been sharpening his claws.
And now he's out for blood.
Do you know how to calm him down?
Find out here.