BAKERSFIELD, CA -- It has been a whirlwind 48 hours for a Bakersfield family whose cat became an international sensation after saving a little boy from a dog attack. From magazine spreads to ceremonial first pitches, the four-legged hero is living in the lap of luxury.
The surveillance video that captured the amazing rescue has already received millions of views on YouTube and has made Tara the cat a household name. But, her owners are still trying to grasp how one video took on nine lives of its own.
Thursday morning started with an appearance on the Today Show. Now, from Australia to the United Kingdom, Bakersfield's newfound hero, Tara, is the cat's meow.
"You know when we posted it I figured oh yeah it will be shared we might get a few local stations and then we heard L.A. and I thought oh how neat it reached L.A.! That's fantastic, that's amazing! And then the next thing I knew it was Atlanta, Georgia, New York? You've got to be kidding me," said Tara's owner Erica Triantafilo.
The Triantafilos have been inundated with phone calls, text messages, e-mails and interview requests after sharing this video of their cat saving their 4-year-old son Jeremy from a vicious dog attack Tuesday.
"When they said it was everywhere I mean everywhere in California not everywhere on Earth!"
Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall showered Tara with Fancy Feast and Jeremy has received several tokens of encouragement.
Next Tuesday, the family will throw out the first pitch at the Bakersfield Blaze game and next Friday, drop the puck at the Condors game.
Tara's paw-sitively amazing feat has made her an instant star but it hasn't gone to her head.
"I think she spent most of the day napping under our dining room table I don't think she's noticed or changed a bit."
TMZ is reporting that Cat Fancy Magazine, is interested in having Tara as their cover-cat, and the Cat Fancier's Association would like to give Tara its first ever "Cat Hero" Award.
Erica Triantafilo says she has not yet heard from either organization, but will likely take them up if they offer.
The surveillance video that captured the amazing rescue has already received millions of views on YouTube and has made Tara the cat a household name. But, her owners are still trying to grasp how one video took on nine lives of its own.
Thursday morning started with an appearance on the Today Show. Now, from Australia to the United Kingdom, Bakersfield's newfound hero, Tara, is the cat's meow.
"You know when we posted it I figured oh yeah it will be shared we might get a few local stations and then we heard L.A. and I thought oh how neat it reached L.A.! That's fantastic, that's amazing! And then the next thing I knew it was Atlanta, Georgia, New York? You've got to be kidding me," said Tara's owner Erica Triantafilo.
The Triantafilos have been inundated with phone calls, text messages, e-mails and interview requests after sharing this video of their cat saving their 4-year-old son Jeremy from a vicious dog attack Tuesday.
"When they said it was everywhere I mean everywhere in California not everywhere on Earth!"
Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall showered Tara with Fancy Feast and Jeremy has received several tokens of encouragement.
Next Tuesday, the family will throw out the first pitch at the Bakersfield Blaze game and next Friday, drop the puck at the Condors game.
Tara's paw-sitively amazing feat has made her an instant star but it hasn't gone to her head.
"I think she spent most of the day napping under our dining room table I don't think she's noticed or changed a bit."
TMZ is reporting that Cat Fancy Magazine, is interested in having Tara as their cover-cat, and the Cat Fancier's Association would like to give Tara its first ever "Cat Hero" Award.
Erica Triantafilo says she has not yet heard from either organization, but will likely take them up if they offer.