The cat has just been in full-on 'fight or flight mode.' With her injuries, she should stay as calm as possible to avoid making her injuries worse. One way to calm her down is to muzzle her. Muzzling a cat can be challenging, though, and you may not have a cat muzzle on hand.  You can create a makeshift muzzle by looping a piece of rope or pair of pantyhose around the cat's head. Closing her mouth with the muzzle will keep her from biting you.  Do not attempt to muzzle her if she is having trouble breathing or has injuries to her mouth. The muzzle could increase her suffering rather than calm her down. If putting a muzzle on the cat is not feasible, drape a towel over her head. This will block her view and awareness of the outside world. Not seeing or hearing disturbing activity could help calm the cat's nerves and prevent her from reacting aggressively.  If the cat does not have bone or spinal injuries, you can wrap her in a towel or a bag. Leave her head exposed and give her room to breathe.  A cat with bone or spinal injuries must lie flat on a firm surface, such as a sturdy board. Take care to keep her head and neck still. Wrapping rope or cords around her body and the board will minimize her movement. The cat may be in a state of shock after the attack. Keeping her warm is one of the best things you can do to keep her comfortable until you reach the veterinary hospital. Gently wrap the cat in some towels or a thick blanket. If the cat is having trouble breathing, you will probably need to perform mouth-to-nose resuscitation before transporting her to the veterinary hospital. Attempt this  only  if the cat is not lashing out at you. To begin, gently pull her tongue out of her mouth and position her head and neck so they are in a straight line.  Reach in her mouth and clear out any debris or saliva that may obstruct airflow to her lungs.  Put your hand over the cat's muzzle, close her mouth, and breathe into her nostrils. Watch for the rise and fall of her chest to indicate air going into her lungs.  Give about 20 breaths per minute.  If she is not breathing, reposition her neck and try again.  If she does not start breathing on her own after multiple attempts, take her immediately to the veterinary hospital. Use extreme caution if she has a spinal injury. The cat probably has some bleeding wounds following the attack. Your job is to make an initial attempt to stop the bleeding before taking the cat to the veterinary hospital. First, use your fingers or palm of your hands to press down on the wound, then wrap a piece of fabric (e.g., wash cloth, hand towel) or gauze around the bleeding area.  Wrap the bandage firmly, but not tightly. Wrapping the bandage too tightly would cut off blood circulation.  If the bleeding does not stop, place additional bandage material on top of what is already there and continue applying pressure. Do not take off the original bandage material.  Do not prolong your first aid if you cannot control the bleeding. Bleeding wounds often require medical or surgical treatment. Do not delay treatment with your efforts to stop the bleeding completely on your own. Fractures are either open (bone has gone through the skin) or closed (skin remains intact). If you see an open fracture, cover it with a clean cloth to prevent debris from entering it and possibly causing an infection.   Do not  try to fix the fixture yourself! Not only would you make the injury worse, but the cat would likely bite you.

Summary: Keep the cat calm. Keep the cat warm. Breathe for the cat. Control the bleeding. Tend to the cat's fractures.


Fermentation occurs best in a temperature of between 18 and 22 degrees Centigrade (64 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit).   Place your glass canning jar in a climate controlled space to achieve the desired temperature. An absence of light also helps the fermentation process along.  Place the jar in a dark closet or cover it with a thick cloth. After two or three days, the lacto-fermentation process will start.  To prevent excess buildup of gasses, slowly twist the top of the sealed glass canning jar until you hear gasses start to escape.  Twist it closed quickly.  Repeat daily.  Some specially-designed canning jars include an airlock that automatically ejects carbon dioxide from the vessel as it accrues.  Such vessels do not need to be burped. Consult manufacturer directions for more information about whether burping your glass canning jar is necessary. After two to four days in a cool-to-room-temperature location, the vessel should be moved.  The target temperature is about four degrees Centigrade (40 degrees Fahrenheit).  For small batches, the bottom shelf of the fridge works nicely. There is no single “right” time to end the lacto-fermentation process.  Most people wait one to three weeks to allow the lacto-fermentation process to work.  Once you’ve waited on the lacto-fermentation process as long as you wish to, remove the vessel and sample the flavor.  You can always replace the lid and allow the fermentation process to continue for longer (though removing the lid of the glass canning jar will slow the momentum of the process). Experiment with the lacto-fermentation process by waiting a longer or shorter time before tasting the product.  This will allow you to achieve the flavor you want.
Summary: Place the vessel in a cool, dark place. Burp your glass canning jar. Move the glass canning jar to a cooler location. Taste your lacto-fermented product.