'Zombie Cat's' Story Won't Die, Now Headed to Court

As Bart the cat continues to recover from injuries sustained after being struck by a car and buried alive, his owner is preparing to go to battle to regain custody of his pet.

Ellis Hutson filed a lawsuit in Hillsborough County Monday asking the court to order Sherry Silk, executive director of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, to return Bart to his care, according to court records. Silk was served the paperwork Tuesday and is vowing to fight to retain custodianship over the now famous tuxedo cat, according to the society’s blog.

Bart’s brush with limelight began last month when he was struck by a car. Believing the cat dead, Hutson buried him.

See Also:

• ‘Zombie Cat’ May Have Been Buried Alive: Humane Society
• ‘Zombie Cat’ Case Takes Strange New Twist
• ‘Zombie Cat’ Update: How to Help Fund His Care
• ‘Zombie’ Cat Expected to Make Full Recovery
• ‘Dead’ Cat Comes Back 5 Days Later

Bart, however, wasn’t ready to forfeit his other eight lives.

The cat returned to his neighborhood five days later, alive, but quite battered.

The critter was brought to the humane society for the care needed to repair a broken jaw and remove a blind eye. The society made sure Bart received the surgery he needed, and by all reports, is faring well.

Bart’s story didn’t end in the recovery room.

Shortly after the surgery, Silk stated Bart would be better off in the care of someone other than Hutson due to the critter’s condition and the presence of a small child in Hutson’s home. Last week, Silk said she believes the cat may have been intentionally buried alive, according to the Huffington Post.

“I think they knew he was breathing,” the Post quoted Silk as saying.

That allegation is based on a YouTube video neighbor Dusty Albritton posted on Jan. 23 following Bart’s return from the grave, the Palm Beach Post reported. The video indicates neighbors, at least, might have known the cat was alive when he was buried.

For his part, Hutson has maintained he did nothing wrong. He simply wants his cat back and is willing to go to court to win custody.

Tampa attorney Thomas Gonzalez of Thompson, Sizemore, Gonzalez and Hearing has stepped forward to volunteer his time representing the society and Silk’s case, the organization’s blog stated.

“The Humane Society of Tampa Bay will review all legal options to keep Bart safe and secure,” the society wrote on its blog.

As for Bart, he is doing very well, eating and giving staff head butts galore,” the society’s Facebook page stated Wednesday.

It is unclear how soon the case will go to court.

Image from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay’s Facebook page

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