Hero cat saves four-year-old boy from dog attack

A dramatic surveillance video shows how a heroic cat rushed in to save four-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo as he was being attacked by a neighbour's dog.

The footage, uploaded to YouTube by Jeremy's father Roger, shows the child playing on a tricycle outside his family's home in Bakersfield, California when the dog walks up and starts biting him.

But family pet Tara had other ideas, careering in and chasing the dog away from the injured boy.

The cat darts out from the right side of the screen after the dog crept up on the boy from behind. Credit: YouTube

Roger told local news station 23abc: "I've never seen a cat do that. Especially ours. It just shows how much she really has a family-oriented mind set."

The cat continued to chase the dog away around the other side of the car. Credit: YouTube

The youngster did require ten stitches after the incident but is apparently doing well, thanks to his feline friend.

The neighbour's dog was put under observation and will be put down next week.