Cat
10 Downing Street's resident cat, Larry, walks past a woman in Downing Street in London September 27, 2011. Reuter

The belief that cats have nine lives appear to be true, at least for one feline from Tampa Bay named Bart which was hit by a car.

Its owner, upon finding Bart lifeless, buried his pet. But after five days, the owner was surprised to see Bart alive in a neighbour’s yard.

“He had dug himself out of the grave and slowly made his way back home, albeit in weak, dehydrated and in need of medical attention,” the Humane Society of Tampa Bay said in a statement.

Besides the “myth” of the nine lives, the super cat possibly survived those grueling experiences and lived to tell it via its owner is that Bart was possibly a physically fit animal like its owner, who apparently was strong enough to dig a hole in his backyard.

A new report, released by the Association for Pet Obesity and Prevention, found that extra weight reduces pet life by two and a half years. The report also discovered that 20 percent of pet cats and dogs are obese, which increases their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart ailments, breathing issues, knee injuries, kidney trouble, osteoarthritis and cancer, according to Shape.com.

The Veterinary Pet Insurance Co adds that latest data in 2015 showed the fourth consecutive year that pet obesity was on the rise.

The report said that just like their owners, the answer to address the pet’s weight issues is to control their diet and exercise regularly. A study, published in the journal Anthrozoos, found that pet owners and dogs who walked daily together lost weight and became fit after three months.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au