A pet sitter claims she has been scarred for life by a savage cat.
Janice Pinto says she spent four days in hospital after being mauled by the moggy she was minding for an Instagram influencer.
She claims the cat, called Haze, pounced as she stroked his head – and sank his teeth in deeper as she tried to shake him off.
Insurance analyst Janice, 25 – who was pet sitting for the second time – needed 14 stitches at A&E. She was later readmitted with a soaring temperature when the wound became infected and needed three weeks off work to recover following surgery to clean the wound and kill the infection.
Janice said: “I petted him on the head, turned around and felt a sharp, deep scratch just above my elbow.
“I looked at the cat and asked, ‘Are you OK?’ and went to pet his head again – and he just clung on to my arm and kept coming back and back.
“I grabbed a duvet to wrap around the cat and put him in another room and shut the door as he charged at me.
“I looked down at the carpet and there was so much blood.
“I thought maybe I’d harmed the cat – but when I looked at my arm, I realised it was my blood.”
Janice was booked to look after Haze on phone app Rover by social media personality Saksha Narayan for £100.
Saksha, 22, who describes herself as a fashion model and digital marketer, has more than 12,000 followers.
Janice, of East London, said: “I can’t stretch my arm straight because of the scars that are running down it.
“They’re a permanent reminder, but it’s also the mental scars.
“I’ve had a cat for three years and he’s my world. But now I’m terrified of him. I don’t let him sleep with me because I’m scared he’ll attack me in my sleep.”
Janice said of Saksha: “Initially she was really polite – she came and collected the cat and was with me in A&E. Then she tried to make me sign a contract absolving her from all liabilities.”
Saksha told us: “Every step, I’ve tried being there for her. I’ve been on her side throughout.
“It’s a nasty thing to happen and it shouldn’t happen to anyone – it’s put me in tears as well. I have sympathy for her and I still do. “
The masters student, from India, said she believed Haze reacted to the presence of Janice’s family cat.
She added: “Since that day there’s not been one wrong behaviour from my cat. He’s a ragdoll, they’re known to be very affectionate and gentle.
“I don’t want to ruin anyone’s view of cats, it was a one-off. In the end, there was one human with two cats.”
