Hero Cat Who Saved Boy Given First Pitch At Baseball Game

The cat hailed a hero after saving a young boy from a dog attack in California has 'thrown' the first pitch at a baseball game.

Fearless tabby Tara became a YouTube sensation after lunging at the dog as it attempted to drag four-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo from his bicycle.

The cat's attempt to throw the baseball, which was pulled along with fishing wire to give the illusion of it flying through the air, was largely unsuccessful.

Nevertheless, the spectacle drew a huge crowd to Bakersfield Blaze's stadium.

The team said the attendance figure for the Lancaster Jethawks game was nearly triple that of a usual Tuesday night fixture.

Jeremy's mother Erica, who presented Tara to the crowd with her husband Roger, said: "Being the mother, every time I watch (the video) it stops my heart for a moment.

"Things could have been much worse without her. We're just so thankful."