‘Zombie’ cat presumed dead, buried, shows up 5 days later

TAMPA, Fla. — A cat in Florida is on the mend after clawing his way back from the dead, surfacing five days after he was hit by a car and buried for dead, according to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

Bart the cat is recovering from a broken jaw and facial injuries, said the agency, which posted on Twitter images of his successful surgery on Tuesday. One of his eyes was wounded so badly it had to be removed.

The Humane Society is calling him a “miracle cat,” while Bart’s ordeal earned him the nickname “zombie cat” on social media.

Bart’s seemingly lifeless body was buried after he was hit by a car earlier this month, local media said. Five days later, he showed up alive in a neighbor’s yard, according to a blog post by the Humane Society.

He was brought to the agency by his owner, who could not afford medical treatment for the injured cat at other veterinary clinics.

“We have seen many amazing cases at our full-service veterinary clinic, but this situation may take the cake!” the Humane Society said on its website.