WATCH: Family cat races to rescue 4-year-old boy from dog attack

Watch above: A California boy is saved from a dog attack by the family cat. Viewer discretion is advised.

A dog may be man’s best friend, but it was a family cat that came to the rescue of a California four-year-old boy being attacked by a dog.

Bakersfield resident Roger Triantafilo posted security footage of the attack on his son Jeremy, which happened late Tuesday afternoon, on YouTube.

“My cat defends my son during a vicious dog attack and runs the dog off before he can do additional damage. Thankfully, my son is fine!” Triantafilo wrote in the YouTube post.

READ MORE: ‘Tara’s my hero’: Jeremy Triantafilo’s cat saves him from dog attack

As Triantafilo’s son plays on his bicycle in front of his home, a dog lurking on the sidewalk sees the boy, sneaks behind a car and attacks the boy from behind.

The dog violently pulled the boy off the bike and mauled his leg.

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But within seconds, the family cat, named Tara according to KERO Bakersfield, rushed to the boy’s aid, tackling the dog and chasing it off.

The boy’s mother, Erica Triantafilo runs to help as Tara continues her brief pursuit.

She told KGET the dog continued to hang around and also bit her as she tried to chase it off.

View image in full screen

The boy had to get 10 stitches to repair the damage to his leg. His mother said he’s recovering at home and doing fine.

The images of the bite marks on his leg can be seen at the end of the 56-second video.

The dog belonged to a neighbour.

According to 23ABC, the dog escaped as the neighbour was pulling out of a gated driveway. It was the neighbour who called 911.

The neighbour volunteered to allow animal control officials to quarantine the dog, but TMZ reported Wednesday the dog is going to be put down.

“Sources tell us … the dog was aggressive even after it was captured and officials decided it was in the best interest for everyone involved to euthanize the canine,” TMZ reported.