Things I May No Longer Do While Playing XII: A Thousand-Yard Stare is not Permission

[Telok]

Depending on the system and edition, housecats can do enough damage to one-round kill a first-level wizard or a commoner. The kid isn’t all that likely to survive, much less level up!

It's worse if it's a feral or wild cat. House cats did 1d2 bite, 1 pt. claws, possible 1d2 rake. Wild did 1d2 bite and two claws, plus two rakes of 1d2.

I had a character once whose backstory included being orphaned by kittens.

Even in 3.5 where they only do 1 damage total they're still a cr appropriate threat to single 1d4 hit die first levels.