Guard cat on duty
Cats can be sweet, loving and playful. They can be aloof and elusive. Scary isn’t the usual description for this relatively small domesticated animal. But here’s proof that this sign isn’t just a joke: Last week, a cat named Tara pulled out some scary moves to save a little boy’s life.
The boy is part of Tara’s human family—a family with which she apparently feels a real bond. He was riding his bike in front of his house when suddenly a neighbor’s dog charged over. Security footage shows the dog attack the boy from behind, then drag him off his bike by the teeth.
From Maurizio Zanetti.
At that moment, Tara steps in—or rather races in. She leaps on the dog (more than twice her size) and heroically chases him off the property. Score one for cats!
Thanks to Tara, a story that started out with the makings of a tragedy has a happy ending—for most of the players anyway. The dog? Well, he’ll likely be euthanized. The boy? He needed stitches, but it could have been a lot worse.
As for the cat, Tara has quickly risen to celebrity status. She’s been offered the cover of “Cat Fancy” magazine. She’s won the first Cat Hero Award from the Cat Fanciers’ Association. Even TMZ took notice, calling her the “Kate Upton of the pet world” (apparently for all the attention Tara’s getting; Kate Upton hasn’t scared off any vicious dogs that we know of).
For the record, Tara hasn’t let the whirlwind change her (is such a reaction even possible for felines?). She apparently still spends much of her time hanging with her owners, meowing, jumping and partaking of other normal cat activities.
Nonetheless, she’s joined the ranks of other cats who’ve forever changed the way we view them as pets.
Cats sometimes get a bad rap. They tend to be picky eaters. Their litter boxes make them somewhat high maintenance, depending on how much work you’re willing to put in. As security animals go, they’re not an obvious first choice. Let’s face it: They’re purry little fluffballs that sleep 15 to 20 hours a day.
But maybe that description actually gives them an edge. No one would suspect a sleepy-eyed kitty lounging in the sun might actually be on duty. Poised to chase and ready to strike. Ready to be the next hero.
Category: Guard Dog Animals, Neighborhood Watch, security
