Mountain lion P-22, the “Hollywood Cat” attacks dog in Southern California neighborhood

A mountain lion widely assumed to be P-22, called the “Hollywood Cat” for prowling in developed neighborhoods near Griffith Park, attacked and injured a chihuahua in Silver Lake last week, and ran off when the dog’s owner punched and kicked the cat until it ran off, according to ABC7.

P-22 recently attacked and killed a chihuahua on a leash with his owner, near the Hollywood reservoir.

Wildlife officials are worried about P-22’s behavior, the Southland’s most famous mountain lion, after his apparent attacks on dogs and his close encounters with their owners.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service say P-22 may be exhibiting signs of distress associated with living in an urban setting. P-22 is one of many Southland lions being tracked by Park Service researchers.

The so-called Hollywood Cat has gained considerable renown for managing to cross both the 405 and 101 freeways to reach his current roaming grounds in the Griffith Park area.

Wildlife officials are now planning to capture the big cat to evaluate its health.

In the most recent P-22 attack, resident Rene Astorga said he was taking his chihuahua named Taz for a walk late Friday night, about 15 to-20 feet from his front door when he saw an animal coming toward them, which he at first mistook for a large dog.

Then the animal took the dog by the neck in its powerful jaws.

“It was a huge mountain lion,” Astorga told ABC7. “I saw the collar. … At that point it was a fight-or-flight instinct. I started punching or kicking – never let go of the leash until finally I felt he was loose. I picked up my dog and ran inside the house.”

Taz the dog had to get multiple stitches for cuts and lacerations but is expected to recover.

Valerie Castaneda was inside the couple’s home and said of Astorga, “He’s my hero,” she said. “He saved our little puppy and fought P-22 and won.”

---

• Report an error
• Policies and Standards
• Contact Us