Why was Gulliver afraid of the mistress cat?

Question: Why was Gulliver afraid of the mistress cat?

Answer: After the rescue of Gulliver from the corn fields, the farmer generously brought him to his house. And Gulliver found the farmer to be his master and therefore the farmer's wife to be his mistress also . in the midst of their dinner, his mistress's favourite cat leaped into her lap. He heard a noise behind him like that of a dozen stocking-weavers at work; and turning his head, he found it proceeded from the purring of that animal, who appeared to be three times larger than an ox, as Gulliver computed by the view of her head, and one among her paws, while her mistress was feeding and stroking her. The fierceness of that creature's countenance altogether discomposed him; though he stood at the farther end of the table, above fifty feet off; and although his mistress held her fast, for fear she might give a spring, and seize him in her talons. But with a good luck, it happened no danger, for the cat took not the least notice of him when his master placed him within three yards of her.