This makes me think of a story a college buddy told me once. He had the luck of knowing someone who worked at a local zoo when tiger cubs were born. They allowed him access after necessary precautions were taken. He was telling me about how he got to hold it in his arms and they let him bottle feed one. Unbeknown to him, their claws don't retract and the tiger cub gripped onto his hand. He said "It hurt like hell, but I knew I couldn't freak out so I shut my eyes tight and said loudly: 'Can someone remove the claws from my hand?!'" He was able to go back 6 months later to see them again. Apparently the tiger remembered him and came close to the cage while he stood next to it. Receiving permission to pet the tiger some, the tiger purred and nuzzled his hand full force into the bar and broke it. "It was worth it, but hurt like hell." was the last thing he said.