Belgian artist has received 20,000 complaints and been physically attacked after he staged a performance hurling cats up a flight of stairs.

Jan Fabre held his piece of work at Antwerp City Hall in Belgium recently where he launched several vulnerable cats into the air which could be heard screaming in fear. 

They then endured a hard landing onto a flight of stairs beneath that was roughly padded.

The performance, which was posted online, has prompted a torrent of outrage.

According to Belgian newspaper La Libre Belgique, Mr Fabre has received 20,000 emails slamming his act. He has also been attacked seven times by men carrying clubs whilst out jogging in the park and been forced to sleep in a different location every night.