Starman, you as others have a misconception that you can really protect yourself with a sidearm from a cat or bear. Maybe in Hollywood, what that side arm does though is give you confidence, but in reality you are not going to have a chance to react to an attack with a pistol fast enough. You are usually being attacked/abushed within a split moment and out of surprise. If I had to leave my 45 or bear spray at the kabin I would choose to take the bear spray in the bush.