The Cat Who Body-Slammed a Dog to Save a 4-Year-Old

Most cats watch from a window. Tara ran toward the threat.

A Quiet Driveway in Bakersfield

On May 13, 2014, four-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo was riding his tricycle in the driveway of his family's home in Bakersfield, California. From the edge of the yard, a neighbor's dog - Scrappy, an eight-month-old Labrador-Chow mix - lunged without warning, biting down on Jeremy's left leg and dragging him across the concrete.

The Part Nobody Expected

Before any adult could react, the family's cat, Tara, launched herself across the frame. She hit Scrappy with enough force to knock the dog off Jeremy, then chased him down the driveway and off the property. Jeremy's father, Roger Triantafilo, had installed a home security camera that captured every second. He posted the footage to YouTube the following day.

16.8 Million Views in 48 Hours

Jeremy required 10 stitches in his left leg. Within 48 hours of the video going live, it had been watched 16.8 million times - eventually surpassing 21 million views. News crews arrived from across the country. Jeremy told reporters: "Tara's my hero."

A Hero Gets Her Moment

Eight days after the attack, on May 21, 2014, Tara and Jeremy were invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Bakersfield Blaze minor league baseball game against the Lancaster JetHawks. The Cat Fanciers' Association awarded Tara its first-ever Cat Hero Award. The spcaLA named her its National Hero Dog Award winner - a title never before given to a cat.

How Tara Found the Family

Tara had joined the Triantafilo household in 2008, when she followed Roger and Erica Triantafilo home from a walk. She had been with Jeremy his entire life. He called her "my hero" - and the rest of the world agreed.

What the Video Showed the World

The security footage became one of the most-shared videos of 2014. Cats are not known for confronting dogs far larger than themselves - which made the footage so arresting to the millions who watched it. Roger Triantafilo told reporters he had no explanation for it. Tara had simply grown up alongside Jeremy, and when he was in danger, she acted.