What started as a simple act of trying to help an injured animal turned into something a lot more serious for one local woman.

Brandi, a resident near the Ilion Gorge area, says she was attacked by a cat on Wednesday night after it wandered onto her property appearing injured and disoriented.

According to her account, the cat showed signs something wasn’t right.

“It looked like it got hit — nose bleeding, mouth bleeding. It could barely walk,” she explained.

Thinking the animal needed help, she attempted to bring it back toward where it came from. That’s when things took a turn.

“When I picked it up, it turned on me and attacked my hand,” she said.

Brandi says she suffered multiple puncture wounds and scratches from the attack.

What happened next is where things became even more serious.

Public Health contacted her the following day, advising that the cat had died and would be tested. By Friday, the results came back — positive for rabies.

From there, Brandi says she was sent to Little Falls Hospital where she began a series of emergency treatments.

“I had to get shots directly in my hand — around 14 of them — plus others in my arm,” she said.

The treatment she received includes Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG), which is injected directly into and around the wound to immediately fight the virus, followed by a series of rabies vaccinations over the coming weeks.

“It’s very painful and sore,” she said. “But I’m glad these treatments exist.”

According to Brandi, Public Health has been in contact with her throughout the process, and she expects further follow-up involving the situation.

The incident is also raising concern among residents about cats roaming freely in the area.

Brandi says the animal that attacked her is one of several that regularly move between properties.

“They’re always on everyone’s lawns. No one knows how many there are, and none are vaccinated,” she said.

While officials have confirmed a rabies-positive animal in the Town of Litchfield, situations like this highlight the risk that comes with interacting with unknown or unvaccinated animals — even ones that may appear friendly.

Public Health continues to remind residents:

  • Do not handle unknown animals
  • Keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations
  • Report suspicious or aggressive animal behavior

Rabies is a serious and often fatal virus once symptoms begin, making immediate treatment critical after any potential exposure.

For Brandi, what started as trying to help ended in a painful lesson — and a warning for others.

“Just be careful,” she said. “You don’t think something like that can happen until it does.”