Why is Cato kept alive by the dogs?

You're referring to the movie "The Road Warrior" (also known as "Mad Max 2"), right? If so, Cato, the little boy who survives the entire film, is *not* kept alive by the dogs.

Here's the breakdown:

* Cato's survival is a testament to his resourcefulness and resilience. He's portrayed as being quite clever and capable, managing to find food and water, and even utilize his slingshot to defend himself.

* The dogs are part of the "Master's" (the villain) forces, and they are dangerous. They are initially used to chase down the protagonist, Max, and they even attack and kill one of the other characters.

* The dogs are not shown to have any particular fondness for Cato, and in fact, they chase him at one point.

* Cato's survival is ultimately due to his own actions and his luck.

While the dogs are part of the film's post-apocalyptic world, they are not the reason Cato survives. He survives by being smart, quick, and lucky.