Robert Smith is one of several people who feed a colony of feral cats in Key Largo, Florida, USA. While feeding the cats, he was approached by an unshaved, six-foot plus white man around 2 pm last Tuesday at mile marker 101 on the ocean side of US 1, which runs through Key Largo.

Robert Smith was attacked by a man because he was feeding feral cats in Key Largo. Picture: COURTESY OF JOHN DONNELLY

The man told Mr Smith that he was breaking the law. Smith said that he wasn’t whereupon the man hit him (presumably with his fist) on the right side of his head which felled him. He hit his head on the ground. He says his teeth are broken and that it is too painful for him to open his mouth.

His girlfriend was nearby but did not see the attack. She took him to a nearby gas station where he phoned the police. Smith refused to go to hospital.

The police visited Smith at his home on a RV park. He told them that he does not know the attacker.

Comment: This is the first time I have read a report where a feral cat colony caregiver has been physically attacked by a person because they were feeding the cats. Although there are many disputes between people who care for feral cats and those who dislike feral cats particularly because they are feeding them. If there is one thing cat haters dislike more than any other it is feeding feral cats. They want them culled not fed because they think they spread disease and that feeding them attracts wild ‘critters’. It’s all about attitude and mentality. The two types of person are like chalk and cheese. They will never be able to come to an agreement on how to deal with feral cats in the US.