Brave Family Cat Saves 5-Year-Old Boy From Bullies (Photo)

A brave cat jumped to the rescue of a boy who was being bullied. Ethan Fenton, 5, was saved by his tabby cat, Smudge, while being bullied by some boys outside his home. The cat jumped on the chest of one of the bullies when he saw the boy push Ethan to the ground.

The bully was so frightened by the cat he ran away crying. Express reports that Ethan’s younger brother Ashton, 2, was also present during the attack.

“I was keeping an eye on the boys who were playing [soccer] in the front garden.” said Ethan’s mother, Sarah, 26, who was watching. “I saw three boys who were much taller and older than Ethan walk over to our front gate. I heard them shout Ethan’s name twice but he ignored them and just put his head back down and kept playing with Ashton.”

She says one of the boys shouted at Ethan, claiming he was ignoring the older boy. He then pushed Ethan over.

“That’s when I rushed outside and saw Smudge fly out from under our car and jump on the boy’s chest. I think it was shock more than anything but the boy stumbled backwards, burst into tears and then ran off.”

Sarah, who works part time as a hairdresser, bought Smudge home after her previous cat died. Choosing Smudge seems to have been fate because the cat they originally picked out was sold before the family could buy it.

“When they showed us Smudge it was just love at first sight,” recounts Sarah. “He was so small and cute and I knew we just had to have him.”

Smudge has been part of the Fenton family for three years but they had never seen him act in such a courageous manner, according to The Mirror.

“He has slept outside his bedroom keeping guard ever since it happened,” says Sarah. “I actually feel so much safer knowing Smudge is around after seeing him defend him like that. He is a big part of the family and he is more of a brother to the boys than a cat.”

Now the heroic kitty has been nominated for a National Cat of the Year award sponsored by the Cats Protection charity.

Sources: The Mirror, Express / Photo credit: Alvesgaspar/Wikimedia Commons, Mercury via The Mirror