Howard the cat is just beginning to recover at the Lansing Veterinary Clinic after brothers Bryce and Kyle Billingslea found the 3-month-old kitten injured in a field. His front paws had apparently been severed by farm machinery and veterinarians say he could have been in the field for a week before the boys came by and heard his cries. Kyle says, "We both looked down we saw the cat and Bryce picked it up and saw it's paws were cut pretty much off.

The boys went to a neighbors house where they called Ingham County Animal Control which picked the cat up. Eight year-old Bryce had placed him in a culvert in the shade to get him away from the flies and bugs. Bryce says, "There were a lot of ants and I didn't want them to start biting him."

They named the kitten "Howard the Combine Kitty" in reference to his amazing story. Animal Control Officer Gary Ireland says, "The cat was sitting there purring away even though it looked like it was seriously injured....Once our vet took interest in it, that was all it took, they were going to do everything they could for the cat."

It's a long road ahead for the little survivor. Howard may need prosthetic feet and the veterinarians and staff are looking into where to get those for him. Lansing Veterinary Medical Center Practice Manager Chris Williams says, "The determination of his overall health is going to be how well his wounds heal, and how much tissue growth we can get back if we have to do future surgeries."

Meanwhile, the two young heroes are just happy to do their part. Kyle says, "We're happy that we saved him because he was like, really cute."

The shelter's Deputy Director, David Wilcox says 300 people have already sent cards and letters with donations to help to pay for Howard's surgeries. For more information on how to donate to help Howard The Combine Kitty, call Ingham County Animal Control at 517-676-8372 or visit the shelters website http://www.ingham.org/ac/