'Guard dog' cat attacks pit bull, leaving dog and owner bloodied, in Saanich, B.C.

A pit bull owner is calling for a change to animal bylaws inSaanich, B.C., after her dog was viciously attacked by a cat.

Javiera Rodriguez told CBC News a house cat attacked her pit bullwhile they were out for a walk with a group of six other pit bulls and their owners on Monday evening.

"The cat actually ran towardsthedogs and started swiping at [my]dog's face," Rodriguez said.

Her three-year-old dog, Bandida, sufferedscratches on the face, ears andchin.Rodriguez was also scratched in the attack. She described the cat as being average in size with white fluffy fur.

KylaGrover, the owner of two of the other dogs on the walk, said she couldn't believe what she saw.

"At first Iwas just shocked that this cat would go after seven dogs," she said. "I thought it would get scared and run away but it never did."

She said she stepped in to help halt the attack.

"Bandida being a pitbull, I knew if something were to happen she would get blamed and I couldn't have that happen, so I just needed to get them apart," she said.

Grover also received puncture wounds and scratches that had to be treated in an emergency room, which took five hours she said.

No dangerous cat bylaw

When Rodriguezreported the attack to the municipality, she found outSaanichonly has bylaws on dangerous dogs.

"Regardless of what kind of pet you have, owners should be held responsible," she said.

Withinthe larger government district that encompassesSaanich, theCapitalRegional District, there is abylaw that prevents animals from beinguncontrolled anywhere other than on its owner or caretaker's property.

One of the owners of the cat, Del Thompson,has apologized and has paid for Rodriguez'sveterinary bills.

He said "it could've been a lot worse" and said the cat has attacked other dogs before.

"She sleeps most of the time so she doesn't have any reaction to anything really, except when dogs come by my wife then she acts like a guard dog," he said.

Thompson'swife was outside gardening when the attack took place.