How to survive a cat attack

[kanicbird]

Bears... no prob, some snakes and the occational po'd beaver I can handle, but let say you and 3 other buddys were hiking and run into a cat. No not fluffy, but some hungry LARGE cat.

(Lets assume the amno you bought was the wrong type for you gun)

I assume that you have no chance of outrunning, climbing, jumping such a beast (though you may outrun your hiking companion which may be all that is needed), what is the plan? The way I suggested is that the hiking party form a semicircle and 'appear' to be attacking the cat (allowing an obvious escape route for the cat) but I'm not sure that everyone was on board, nor was I sure that this was the correct way to go.