Grandmother strangles rabid bobcat with her bare hands prompting tens of thousands in donations for her rabies treatment

A US woman fought and killed a rabid bobcat with her bare hands prompting tens of thousands in donations for treatment to prevent her from developing rabies.

The fund was set up for Grandmother DeDe Phillips after she broke her finger and was bitten numerous times by the cat before she was able to strangle it.

Since the attack on June 7, it has emerged that the vicious animal tested positive for rabies.

Ms Phillips, 46, now requires treatment to prevent herself from developing the disease.

Ms Phillips was attacked outside her home in rural Hart County, about an hour north of Athens in Georgia, US.

Speaking to the The Athens-Banner-Herald, she described how she silently defended herself against the deadly animal so as not to startle her five-year-old granddaughter.

After she managed to strangle the wild animal, she called for reinforcements.

“Once I got him where he wasn’t moving I started screaming for my daughter-in-law to call 911,” she said.

Ms Phillips refused to release the beast until her son showed up and stabbed the animal “four or five times.”

“It never budged, so I knew it was completely dead,” she said.

Ms Phillips has already undergone her first round of rabies treatment.

So far £20,209 ($26,755) has been raised for Ms Phillips’ medical expenses.

On the fundraising page Ms Phillips’ cousin wrote: “DeDe was attacked by a Bobcat that tested positive for rabies and now has to have treatments to keep herself safe.

“The shots are around $10,000 for the sets and she needs at least 4 more. As we all know money doesn't grow on trees, so I’m asking on behalf of her and her family that you donate anything that you can!”