My Niece Cuts

[puprock97]

Another issue with my niece--
She cuts herself and she is only 11 years old. I discovered a knife in her room(one of the knives you would use at dinner to cut up a steak). She has these 2 cuts along her arm, near her wrist.
Here is a picture: http://i45.tinypic.com/2v0c09c.jpg
Here is the knife: http://i48.tinypic.com/5a2i5i.jpg   http://i46.tinypic.com/30ufzn6.jpg  http://i47.tinypic.com/2j36692.jpg
She told me she isn't upset or anything, she thinks the "stinging, burning, and the blood" feels good. Her mother is aware of this, but she doesn't quite know how to handle it. Gabriella(my niece) said she had never done it before, but the insane, deep scratches she got from my cat made her want to do this more.
She really has no issues at home and she didn't get this from her friends, she said on the show Degrassi, one of the characters cut themselves, and their cuts bled a ton, and Gabriella said she didn't want that, she just wanted to see what it felt like and she was sad at the time for some reason she doesn't remember. She said the actual cutting doesn't hurt, but afterwards, it stings a little.
What do I do with her, or what should I tell her mother to do?

[puprock97]

My cat is partially feral, and she was never abused. She scratches a lot. I told Gabriella to stay away from her, but she went to pet her and my cat shredded up her hand.

I live with my sister and Gabriella(my niece) so I know she is fine. I am usually home with her most of the time, because her mom works.

Her mom has never cut herself, and no one around Gabriella cuts themselves, she is home schooled.

[margypops]

I would question what is going on in this childs life , why would a cat make deep scratches unless the cat is abused, The mother needs to get help , it could perhaps be a learned behavior.... get some help for this child ....Whatever she says she did get this from somewhere ..