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Tara, the badass cat who saved her small human from a wretched dog, made her national TV debut this morning on the TODAY show.
The Triantafilo clan gave an interview live from their home in Bakersfield. Jeremy, the beneficiary of Tara's bravery, dozed peacefully on the lap of his mother Erica as she fielded questions about whether Tara, a stray adopted by the family six years ago, exhibited any signs of a "lion complex."
Erica told the TODAY show, "Every once in a while she puts our dog back into her place, but for the most part, she’s just the most mellow cat you’ve ever met. All our boys love her and pick on her occasionally. She just loves them right back anyway."
Erica said that the whole experience was "a blur." She said, "I just remember hearing him and the next thing I know, I see my cat flying out of nowhere, onto this dog, and just remember trying to get my son and get the dog away and back in its yard, away from both of us that it was trying to attack."
Jeremy's dad Roger describes the moment he saw the footage for himself: "It was pretty amazing to see just a cat take on a dog and so selflessly just put herself out there and not worry about if she was going to get bit or injured herself."
Jeremy seems to be recovering just fine from his nasty wounds that required stitches, but mom said he's eager to heal up so he can get back outside and play.
Things aren't looking so good for the villain of the video. Erica said she spoke with animal control who said there is only a slim chance the dog who attacked Jeremy will live: “The animal can be rehabilitated by the family possibly but from what I understand, that’s a long and difficult procedure to get the dog back in their (the owner’s) custody. Otherwise it will be put to sleep, unfortunately."
In the meantime, Tara is a rising star. She is getting offers to be the cover kitty of the premiere feline magazine "Cat Fancy" and to receive an award from the Cat Fanciers' Association. TMZ is calling the kitty the "Kate Upton of the pet world."
Tara cat is being hailed in a hometown in desperate need of heroes. When Bakersfield makes headlines, it's usually for something really embarrassing like a neo-nazi tween pop group or a guy eating stray cats. Today Tara is being hailed as "Ninja Cat" on the front page of today's Bakersfield Californian:
Related:
Watch This Hero Cat Save Her Young Human From A Vicious Dog
Hero Cat Who Saved Child From 'Mean Dog' Grants Interview To Local TV Station
