CHICAGO, IL -- A cat in Chicago is recovering after falling out of an 18-story window.




Now, the cat's owner, who's a soldier serving in Iraq, is worried about how he will pay for the vet bills. Maxim, a black and white kitty with piercing yellow eyes, took quite a fall from a Chicago high-rise.

Maxim managed to claw open a window screen and the kitty tumbled 18 stories to the ground below.

Daria, who is watching the soldier's cat, says "it's really high. The doctor said this is the first time they've seen a cat who survived fall at that height."

Construction workers found the cat and rushed him to a Humane Society. They sent him to the animal emergency center in Northbrook for help.

Veterinary surgeon Dr. Aaron Jackson says "his injuries were potentially severe. Lucky for him he's a large cat."

Dr. Jackson says the 18 story fall left Maxim with several broken bones.

Dr. Jackson says "this is his right shoulder fracture and here's his left shoulder fracture."

Jackson put metal plates and pins in Maxim's shoulder and pelvis. The cat will have staples for several weeks and wear a special patch for pain. He's expected to be back on his paws in no time.

Dr. Jackson says the best thing about Maxim is a microchip, which save his life. It was able to identify him at the Humane Society that took him from construction workers.

Over in Iraq, Sergeant Matthew Barkmeier never expected his pet back home in Chicago would be the one to have battle scars. The soldier wonders how to pay the unexpected $3,000 vet bill