EDINBURG – A family said it’s a miracle that their cat is still alive after a dart penetrated his head.

"He's like a brother to my little brother and a son to my mom," Jason Chavez said.

Those words describe his family’s four-legged family member, Buster.

Chavez told CHANNEL 5 NEWS last weekend his mother let Buster out for an hour to roam.

When he returned, Chavez said, "She found Buster with a five to six-inch dart in his head!”

Chavez said his brother took the news hard.

"He had goosebumps, he's crying hysterical, my mom is trying to keep him calm. Of course, she is very nervous and scared," Chavez told CHANNEL 5 NEWS.

Before they could get Buster to a veterinarian, he pulled the dart out himself. Doctors told the Chavez family Buster would make a full recovery.

The vet they went to was unavailable to speak but Veterinarian Lucas Hinojosa says Buster is lucky to be alive.

"It probably just scraped the cranium and did not do any damage to the brain inside, and that's why we have a cranium to protect our brain," Hinojosa said.

Hinojosa told CHANNEL 5 NEWS had that dart penetrated Buster's skull he could have lost motor and sensory skills.

Hinojosa said if you find your animal with a similar injury it is best to leave the object in the animal until you can see a professional.  

He said in extreme situations, "If you have to pull it out then the best thing is to make sure if there is anything on the tail end of it, cut it off and make sure it travels in the same direction it's going.”

Chavez said he’s thankful for all the family and friends who donated money to help pay Buster's medical bills.

He told CHANNEL 5 NEWS day by day Buster is becoming his old self again.