A shocking video of a cat saving a little boy (4) from a vicious dog in the US has gone viral.

In it, Jeremy Triantafilo is seen riding his bike on his driveway on CCTV footage, before he is attacked and dragged from his trike by the animal.

But the real surprise comes when the family cat, Tara (can we claim her as part Irish?), springs to the rescue, scaring the dog off.

The kid's father has responded to questions on Youtube about why Jeremy's mother ran off after the incident, as seen in the footage.

Roger Triantafilo of Bakersfield, California said the dog was continuing to act in an agressive manner and she needed to pin him down.

Friends for life - Jeremy (4) and tabby cat Tara relax after their stunning experience

The animal, who belonged to neighbours, was later put down by animal control.