Authorities target cat-eating alligator

PALM BAY, Fla., May 11 (UPI) -- Florida wildlife officials said a trapper would be sent to catch and destroy an 8-foot alligator spotted eating a cat in a neighborhood.

Robert Geraci Sr., 70, of Palm Bay said he was investigating a splash in the canal behind his home in the Palm Bay Estates neighborhood about 7 a.m. Tuesday and he spotted the alligator with a cat in its mouth, Florida Today reported Wednesday.

"That poor thing, it probably was a feral cat. The gators are amusing as long as they don't bother anyone, but when they do something like this ... you have to pay attention," Geraci said.

Florida Fish and Wildlife authorities said officers scoped out the neighborhood Tuesday and plan to send a trapper to catch the reptile.

"Typically, if it's 4-foot-long and above, it's destroyed," said James Dean, a Florida Fish and Wildlife trapper. "It could have been hungry or someone could have been feeding him. Once I ran into a man who was feeding an alligator bagels and cream cheese."