A cat that spent days limping around North Whidbey with an arrow through his chest will probably survive the ordeal.

Veterinarian Eric Anderson at Oak Harbor’s Best Friends Veterinary Center said a Good Samaritan, Cody Parker, found the injured kitty on the side of Fakkema Road at about 10:30 Monday morning and brought him in. Anderson decided to take the cat as a “charity case.”

The arrow was protruding out of one side of the cat’s chest and had nearly gone through to the other side, where the skin had become necrotic. Anderson found maggots had infested the wound site.

“Unfortunately this cat has been wandering around with this arrow in its chest for several days,” the veterinarian said.

The medical team anesthetized the feline and then trimmed the arrow to get X-rays. Miraculously, the arrow just missed the animal’s heart, aorta and other vital structures.

“He’s very, very, very fortunate,” he said.

The pet doctors surgically removed the arrow, which Anderson said was surprisingly difficult because it didn’t want to budge. As long as the cat was under, they also neutered him.

By Monday afternoon, the cat was awake and eating. He was hooked up to an IV for fluids and antibiotics.

Anderson said the black cat, about 9 months to a year old, is a little skittish right now — though who could blame him. The vet isn’t sure if the cat is a stray or a lost pet. Once the kitty recovers, he’ll be turned over to the animal shelter and adopted out unless the owner comes forward.

“He could be a great pet for someone,” Anderson said.

Island County Animal Control Officer Carol Barnes said she’ll investigate the possible animal cruelty case.