Terrified Family Held Hostage By Lux The Cat Will Keep Him - But Are Sending Him For Therapy

A family forced to call the police after their 22lb cat started attacking them are giving him another chance.

Lee Palmer dialled 911 after he, partner Teresa Barker, their baby and dog had to take shelter in a bedroom after part-Himalayan Lux went on the rampage.

The four-year-old feline had reacted with fury after he was “spanked” for clawing at the eight-month-old baby’s face.

Standing by him: The family want to keep Lux despite the incident

But two days after the attack – which saw police enter the house and catch Lux with a dog snare – the family have decided to send the cat to therapy.

Lee Palmer told the Associated Press as well as taking Lux to a vet, the cat will see a pet psychologist.

He added: “We’re not getting rid of him right now. He’s been part of the family a long time.”

The voice of fear: The family made a panicked 911 call

Lux could be heard furiously yowling in the panicked 911 call as Palmer told the operator: "He's charging at us. He's at our door, bedroom door."

The baby received superficial scratches to its face but no other injuries.

Barker said told KPTV: “It’s only funny when it’s not happening to you.

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“When this happens to you, I assure you, you will do the same thing.”

The family, of Portland, Oregon, say they called animal control first, but were forced to contact the police after no one picked up.

Further transcripts published on Fox43 quote Palmer as saying: “He’s trying to attack us. He’s very, very, very, very hostile.

“He’s got kind of a history of violence. He’s kind of a violent cat already. But he’s got really bad now.”