I would say there is no such thing like a vicious cat -it is a behavioral problem but there is no intention to hurt you.

Cats don't know that your skin is much more sensitive than their own. For them it is a kind of play. And being crazy can hit them any second.

Which leads to the question: does Sara play enough? I suppose she is not a senior kitty? Maybe you can invent some games, also rough games in which she is allowed to kill boxes, old newspapers, fur mousies etc. I have no idea how close she is to the dogs. With another cat in the household she could play and share love -as well as aggression from time to time.

If she attacks you she must learn that this is not allowed. I think yelling at her very loudly and immediately is good -and also stopping the play by walking away. Squirting with the water bottle could also help -and I am sure there are some better tricks. I only have two cats who are getting more quiet now. I wish you good luck in training.

She will anyway not be able to connect things that happen five minutes later (like opening the rat's cage) to what she has done earlier.