Well for example if you are in a house break in situation and Fido was barking like mad, and the burglar caught a glimpse of the dachshund yapping away behind the glass screen door, they decide to ignore it and continue anyways, while the owner of the house is unaware until they hear the glass break in the middle of the night. They get up and see a guy trashing the place and collecting whatever he can carry inside their home. So what they do is, look at the dynamic football that keeps barking? No, they spot Fluffy laying on the couch not caring about who's in the house, as long as the guy doesn't bother her couch. So you grab the cat, and throw it at the burglar and when those claws sink into his jacket or clothing he's gonna be in a world of pain as it buys you a few seconds to fight him off! That's why they are the ultimate self-defense animal."
Something like that

(It's obviously satire)