Sorry I don't have any advice, but I just want to say that i understand what your freind is going through. When Pixie was younger, he was a little demon too. You could barely go anywhere without him attacking you. Nothing worked-not even the animal behaviorist I called could cure Pixie of his bad manners. Eventually, however, he grew out of it (when he was about six months).
I think your freind's cat will eventually grow out of it. But if it's really a big problem, and your freind can afford it, she should try seeking help from a cat or animal behaviorist.