Woman mauled by CAT speaks out in ferocious stray's defense A Melvin, Michigan resident named Maxx was trying to shoo away a stray cat she'd taken in when it went right for her face and sank in its claws Surveillance video shows what Maxx says was her flailing around in the snow as the cat hangs from her face, its claws sunken deep into her skin 'When I went to go pull, I could feel his teeth,' says Maxx, who had actually saved the cat from being put to sleep By Jill Reilly and Joshua Gardner A Melvin, Michigan woman was brutally attacked by a stray cat and shocking footage of the mauling has already gained a million views on YouTube. The woman, who identified herself to reporters only as Maxx, endured the horrific attack November 30 but only recently realized it had been caught on her home surveillance camera. The attack left her face swollen and infected and the cat named Buddy dead as officials were forced to test it for rabies. Shocking: Maxx was just trying to shoo a stray cat away from her mother's dog when video footage shows her being brutally mauled by the animal. Here, the swelling caused by the subsequent infection can be seen, as can the animals teeth and claw marks in her face Bizarre: Video of Maxx being attacked November 30 was uploaded to YouTube and gained over a million views in just one day Buddy: The cat was a stray that Maxx had taken in over the sumemr to save it from being euthanized. After the attack, Buddy had to be put down to be tested for rabies Maxx had taken in Buddy over the summer to save him from being put to sleep and was shocked that he attacked. â€˜Your first reaction was to get him off and when I went to go pull, I could feel his teeth,â€™ Maxx told WJBK. The harrowing process of getting him off badly gouged Maxxâ€™s face and eventually caused cellulitis and serious swelling. Buddy had to be euthanized in order to be tested for rabies. He tested negative. â€˜He was sweet as pie,â€™ Maxx said. â€˜When they came to get him I couldn't even watch because even though he did that to me, I couldn't see them take him away because I knew what they were going do to him.â€™ Unfazed? Despite her ordeal Maxx, who has three other cats, says she's still a cat lover Maxx, who has three other cats, said she remains a cat lover despite her ordeal. She says she was just trying to protect her mother's dog, which the cat had just attacked. Wearing a pink tracksuit kicking snow towards Buddy in the middle of the road - a black and white dog is tied to a fence behind her and wags its tail. Buddy backs away, but suddenly springs up from the ground and pounces on the woman, grabbing onto her head.