WARNING: A few of the images in the video may be disturbing to some viewers
Click the play button on the video window the the right to see the storyLisa Montonati can hardly believe she and her daughter Christina have become victims of a rabid animal attack in northern Arizona.
"I had no idea that some wild animal was gonna come out and attack," she said.
The two, along with a few friends were out hiking in Prescott Valley Monday when a bobcat attacked the 13- year-old girl.
"I thought I was dreaming at first because I didn't feel anything," Christina Montonati said.
The two told ABC15 the cat came out of the woods, clawing and biting at Christina. Lisa said her motherly instinct took over.
"I ran over there and just grabbed it off of her. As I grabbed it, it latched onto my arm and was biting and scratching."
Lisa jumped in to try to remove the bobcat, but ended up getting bitten more than 30 times. After a lengthy struggle the cat ran off into the woods.
The girls were able to call 9-1-1 for help and hike about a half-mile to paramedics.
Lisa's arm is wrapped in a sling. Christina's leg is wrapped with gauze and she has to use crutches to get around.
The cat later charged officers as they searched for it.
They opened fire, killing it. Arizona Game and Fish agents have taken custody of the animal as part of its investigation.
Preliminary test results were released Tuesday night, which showed the cat did have rabies.
Both Lisa and her daughter are undergoing rabies treatments.
Christina said the attack leaves her with an interesting story to tell, and the scars to prove it.
"It's not something that everybody gets to say, 'Oh I got bitten by a bobcat today,' and you get the scars to show everyone so they know you aren't lying."
The family has set up an account to help with costs in the name of Lisa Montonati at all Wells Fargo banks.
