@NYwoman wrote:
I agree that the cats were probably afraid of the "intruders" and protecting their home. A cat can feel in danger and even cornered without getting near them. I would never attempt to touch a cat in THEIR territory unless they knew me WELL and acted contented with me before. And I would NEVER bring around children to this situation. That is just asking for an attack.
I have both raised cats and pet sat them.
The child in question has been in their home many many times with nary a problem and has interacted well with this cat who would greet him with purring, rubbing against him etc. So the cat knew him WELL and said cat never ever showed signs of agression with him. Furthermore no one attempted to touch the cat, the child was walking to get a clean food bowl when he was attacked, the mother was attacked when she was trying to get the cat off her son.
I think what others have said may be the reason the cat flipped - anxiety - since this is the first time his people have left them alone for any length of time. He was raised by the owner when found outside, brought in and bottle fed along with his 3 other siblings and had a close bond with his "mother", so that might be the reason - he was missing said mother and they who came to feed him wasn't her.