Internet Famous
Bart
2015
The Florida cat who was hit by a car, buried by his grieving owner, and clawed his way back out of the grave five days later.
- Owner
- Ellis Hutson
- Years
- 2015
- Known for
- Internet Famous
Bart, a black-and-white tabby from Tampa, Florida, became world news in early 2015 in one of the most astonishing survival stories ever told about a cat. After he was struck by a car and appeared lifeless, his heartbroken owner's family buried him in a neighbour's garden.
Five days later, Bart was found alive — emaciated, badly injured and with a damaged eye, but unmistakably the same cat, having apparently dug his way out of his shallow grave. He was rushed to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, where staff nicknamed him the 'zombie cat' and carried out surgery to save him.
Vets believe Bart had most likely been knocked unconscious rather than killed, and slipped into a state so deep that his family understandably mistook it for death. His remarkable recovery captured hearts around the globe and became a powerful, if unsettling, reminder of just how resilient cats can be — and of why a veterinary check is always wise before assuming the worst.