‘Zombie Cat’ Buried Alive By Owner Should Get New Home, Humane Society Says

The “Zombie Cat” story isn’t quite over.

When Ellis Hutson buried his cat after it was hit by a car, he had no idea that his pet was still alive. That’s his story anyway. But the Humane Society isn’t buying it, and now the two could be going to court to determine who ends up with the feline also known as “Bart, the Miracle Cat.”

This week Hutson told ABC he “was sure the animal was dead” and decided to enlist his neighbor to bury the cat near his home. Five days later, Bart returned with severe injuries and covered in dirt. He’d clawed his way to freedom thus earning the more appropriate “Zombie Cat” moniker.

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay shared Bart’s story with the world as they made sure he was given the best care and allowed to recover. But the longer they were around Bart and the longer they had to gestate on his story, the more suspicious some of the circumstances surrounding his injuries started to seem.

Now they’ve decided they don’t want to give back the cat. Hutson finds this unacceptable and is now prepared to do battle with the animal rights organization.

“If we have to go to court, we have to go to court,” he said. “I haven’t done anything wrong, and I don’t think it’s right to take my cat.”

In comments to Huffington Post, a Humane Society representative said she “does not believe Hutson will be able to provide a home environment suitable for Bart’s fragile state of health, and expressed concerns that Bart will not be kept indoors.”

“I just don’t want [Bart] to go there,” the rep said. “If it’s a legal issue, and it could be, we may very well lose. But we’re going to fight to do what we think is right for this cat.”

The Humane Society is hoping that Hutson will surrender his rights to the so-called “Zombie Cat” before it goes that far. The Humane Society has already funded Bart’s medical expenses and made a special note that a GoFundMe page set up in Bart’s honor was in no way linked with their organization.

The originator of the page is Hutson’s neighbor, Dusty Albritton, who said that the $7,000 in funding that have currently been raised will go to emergency veterinary services “in Bart’s name.”

Do you think “Zombie Cat” should be allowed to go back home with his original owner, or should the Humane Society take ownership?