In most cases adults are a lot less likely to be attacked by mountain lions than say a bear. Cats are wise on their prey and some what timid to attack anything they might view as harmful. I've hunted a lot of mountain lions and they for one do not like people. The minute a person gets to the tree they get really nervous. Has seen a lot of cats in the wild even without dogs I'm blessed to have seen em. They will avoid any contact or chance of being seen out in the wild. Now around populated area's that's a whole different story. But they still are gonna go for smaller females or children vs an adult male. Cats are less likely to attack a person compared to a cow elk with a calf.

I was circled three times in one morning tracking a cat. The cat's prints were in my prints three times in less than an hour. Was it sizing me up I don't know. But the logical thing tells me he was trying to throw me off on his tracks and scent. I did have a young pup with me educating him on the scent. At the end the dog got to see the cat. He went ruffed up and starting barking. I wish I'd had my head up to see that. After that the cat went to the top and circled twice more and took off. We played this game with that particular cat for three days. He outsmarted five houndsmen and twice as many dogs. They are a unique critter. I love hunting them.