[howdydoo]

Definitely embellished. If you try to eat a live cat, it will scratch your face beyond recognition.

[Trasmatta]

Here's a similar case that also purports live cat eating: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Domery

> In one year [Domery] devoured 174 cats (not their skins) dead or alive; and says, he had several severe conflicts of interest in the act of destroying them, by feeling the effects of their torments on his face and hands: sometimes he killed them before eating, but when very hungry, did not wait to perform this humane office

So in that case, the person reporting it is saying the man was indeed scratched up by the cats.