'Suicide' claim after Hoff's daughter scratched by cat

Baywatch star David Hasselhoff’s daughter was taken to hospital after she was badly scratched by the family cat, the actor’s spokeswoman said tonight.

Publicist Judy Katz denied a report that 14-year-old Hayley had tried to kill herself.

Police in Los Angeles said that they did receive a call “reporting an attempted suicide” at 8pm on Sunday night.

“That’s the way the radio came out,” LAPD spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said.

But Ms Katz said Hasselhoff called 911 after hearing from his older daughter that Hayley had a “severe scratch” from the pet on her forearm.

She told showbiz news website TMZ.com that Hasselhoff denied saying it was a suicide attempt, but added that it was possible the 911 operator could have interpreted what he said in that way.

The sisters had been at their mother Pamela Bach’s home. Bach and Hasselhoff are divorced and share custody of their daughters.

“Upon boarding an overnight flight for overseas last night, Mr Hasselhoff received a call from his oldest daughter alerting him that his younger daughter had been playing with the dog and cat at her mother’s home in the San Fernando Valley,” Ms Katz said in her statement.

“The cat gave her a severe scratch on her forearm and she was bleeding.

“Mr Hasselhoff did what any responsible parent would do, he called 911 to report the incident and asked if they would send someone to check up on his child.

“They responded and she was taken to a local hospital, treated and released shortly thereafter.

“She is currently at her mother’s home. Fortunately, the scratch was superficial.

“Mr Hasselhoff was told that his daughter was fine and he proceeded to board the flight.

“Mr Hasselhoff spent the afternoon with his daughters prior to leaving town on business.”