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Super Contributor
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Registered: ‎11-13-2014

Lori Piper, right, and Aleks Gramza treat Bart on Tuesday at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Bart was hit by a car, buried and apparently crawled back to his owner five days later.

Danyelle Ho/AP

We wrote about dogs today and so, in the interest of bipartisanship, this story is about cats – one cat in particular: Bart.

Bart's owner, Ellis Hutson, 52, of Tampa, Fla., said he found the 1 1/2-year-old feline last week in the middle of the street. The cat was lifeless and lying in a pool of blood after apparently being struck by a car.

"I couldn't stand to bury the cat," Hutson told the Tampa Bay Times. And so he asked his neighbor to dig a shallow grave for the cat near where he was found.

Five days later, Bart was back, having apparently used up one of his nine lives. He had a broken jaw, open wounds on his face and a ruptured eye. But he was alive.

"It was unbelievable," Hutson told the newspaper. "I've never seen anything like that before."

Hutson first reached out to local veterinary clinics, but he was unable to afford their fees. He then turned to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Vets there say they expect Bart to recover — though he will lose his eye.

"Bart came through his surgery very well and is resting comfortably in our care," the Humane Society said today. "He will be able to go home in five to seven days once he is able to eat on his own. Full recovery will take about six weeks. He is a brave boy!"

Once he recovers, Bart will go home to Hutson.

"The guy genuinely, believe me, cares about this cat," Sherry Silk, Humane Society's executive director told Tampa Bay Times. "He's a well-meaning guy."

Hutson's neighbor, Dusty Albritton, who found Bart after his burial, called it "God's miracle."

"I saw him with my own eyes," he told ABC News. "I know he was dead. He was cold and stiff."

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,426
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

The poor thing was probably in shock not dead. How sad it had to suffer but idiot owners still let their cats out to roam and fend for themselves.

Honored Contributor
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Outdoor-Indoor Felines life expectancy? 3 years. Indoor only felines life expectancy? 13 years! Some humans do not deserve the love given them by these animals.
hckynut(john)
Super Contributor
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Registered: ‎11-13-2014
Thank God it was a shallow grave!
Respected Contributor
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On 1/29/2015 hckynut said: Outdoor-Indoor Felines life expectancy? 3 years. Indoor only felines life expectancy? 13 years! Some humans do not deserve the love given them by these animals.

Exactly.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,764
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Maybe the owner should give this cat to a rescue who will find him a suitable home? I don't really think the cat's future looks good if he goes back to the guy who had him buried when he was still alive.

-Kalli

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,869
Registered: ‎09-08-2010

Poor thing.

Super Contributor
Posts: 790
Registered: ‎09-05-2010

I'm so glad the poor thing is recovering. I hope the idiot who owns him will keep him inside from now on, though I agree it would be better if he found a new home with someone who would take better care of him.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 868
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Several weeks ago I adopted my precious kitty. The shelter told me he was found as a stray and was so badly emaciated that they didn't think he would survive. He had lost all of his fur but he was a fighter and came back. It was love at first sight and now that he owns me, he will NEVER be a stray again. He's an indoor boy and will only go out on my fenced patio with me when the weather warms up. He bonded with me instantly and is constantly with me. He doesn't sleep with me, he sleeps on me all night long. He's all white with green eyes and although he's 6 years old, he looks like a kitten. Shame on these people who let their pets roam all over. I reside in Northeast Ohio and our temps have been freezing. We have had a slew of pets found frozen to death because the idiot owners left them outside. We are calling for stricter laws and punishment. I feel that the punishment should fit the crime. If you leave your dog tethered in 5 degree temps without shelter, food, or water, the same should happen to you. Our pets are innocent and depend on us for everything. One local police department set up kennels in the garage of the police station to house stray animals. OK! I'm off my soapbox. docsgirl

Super Contributor
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Registered: ‎09-05-2010

For what it's worth docsgirl, I like your soapbox.