A man who was hit on the head by a 13lb cat that dropped from an eighth floor balcony in Turin in northern Italy is suing the pet’s owner for personal injury.

The 56-year-old man was strolling along a street when the fat feline fell from the balcony of its owner’s apartment and landed on top of him. The cat died in the accident.

The unnamed man, who was on his way to a market, suffered serious trauma to his neck and vertebrae and is suing the owner for damages.

The female owner of the tubby tabby is to appear in court next week, accused of failing to control her cat and inadvertently causing injury to the man, who wants compensation. She has already been fined by municipal authorities for failing to control the animal.

It was a particular stroke of bad luck for the man – it was only the third time he had ever set foot in Turin.