• 'Hero' cat pounced on dog that attacked 4-year-old • Video of incident garnered 21m views on YouTube

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

A cat that became famous for saving a central California boy from a dog attack threw the first pitch Tuesday night at a Bakersfield Blaze baseball game – or at least she tried.

The cat, named Tara, was captured on security camera on 13 May when she pounced on a dog that attacked her 4-year-old human Jeremy Triantafilo.

The video, which has garnered 21m views on YouTube, shows the dog biting and attempting to drag the boy. Within seconds, Tara leaps out and chases the dog away.

Jeremy needed 10 stitches in his left leg after the incident.

Ryan Triantafilo, Jeremy's father, said he edited the video and posted it on YouTube for family and friends to see and that he never anticipated the flood of attention.

"We've just given her a lot of love, kept her in the house and paid a lot of attention to her," Triantafilo said.

There was a failed attempt at the game, between the Blaze and the Lancaster JetHawks, to have Tara "throw" the pitch using a baseball attached to a fishing line. Ryan Triantafilo then helped the cat throw the pitch as he held her in his arms. Jeremy threw the game's actual ceremonial first pitch.