Community Corner

'Zombie Cat' Story Takes Strange New Twist

Someone is threatening to steal the recovering animal from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

As Bart the “Zombie Cat” continues to recover from his return from the grave, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay is beefing up security around its building.

Someone called the society over the weekend threatening to “storm” the facility where Bart is being kept, according to ABC Action News. The caller stated taking possession of Bart is the goal.

The little tuxedo cat has gained national attention over the past week or so ever since news broke about his brush with death. It seems Bart was struck by a car Jan. 16 and was believed dead by his owner, who buried him.

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Bart, however, wasn’t ready to cash in his chips. The cat returned to his neighborhood Jan. 21.

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Requiring extensive medical care to repair a broken jaw and remove an eye, Bart was brought to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. He had surgery last week to help put him on the road to recovery.

Bart’s story took another unusual turn last week when the society announced its intention not to give the cat back to owner Ellis Hutson. The decision was made because the Hutson family has a small child and there is also a concern about Bart being allowed outdoors, ABC quoted the agency’s Sherry Silk as saying.

“We want a home with no young children that could put him in jeopardy,” she told the station.

Hutson, however, would like his cat back and both sides have vowed to go to court if necessary, the station noted.

While Bart’s eventual fate remains undetermined, the society is reporting he is on the mend.

“Bart is resting comfortably this morning, but is still unable to eat on his own,” a post on the society’s blog stated on Monday. “Our director of medical operations believes he will need his feeding tube for a few more weeks until his jaw and palate are completely healed.”

Photo from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay Facebook page

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