What is the difference between stray and feral cats?
A feral cat is born and lives in the wild with little or no human contact. Feral cats are fiercely independent and survive (but may not thrive) alone, without human help. They avoid people and hide, back away, or flee when they spot humans. If cornered, feral cats may become defensive. They rarely become pet cats.
A stray cat is a domestic cat that has been abandoned or “strayed” from home and become lost. A stray cat may currently be homeless, but it was once a pet that lived with humans. Stray cats learn to live on their own and may adopt feral behaviors as their contact with humans decreases.
They may be afraid of humans but often remember how to renew their trust in people and rekindle their ability to be “pets.” Eventually, many strays overcome their fears and happily revert to being household cats.
Where do feral cats live?
Feral cats live on all continents except Antarctica — a testament to their ability to adapt and survive in challenging environments. Worldwide, there are approximately 100 million feral cats, with 60 million residing in the United States. Despite their ability to survive, feral cats have a shorter lifespan than pet cats.
How do feral cats live?
Food, water, and protection from the elements are valuable commodities in the feral world. Feral cats are skilled hunters who eat small rodents and birds. They scavenge carcasses of animals that are already dead and scour garbage bins for edible scraps. Water sources may include gutters, puddles, ponds, and bird baths.
Feral cats often live in groups (colonies) and seek the shelter of alleys, building eaves, trees, caves, or any structure that will provide a cover and windbreak. They may roam in search of food and water but often lay claim to sleeping quarters by marking their territory. Cats that become more accepting of humans may seek shelter under carports and porches.
Why are feral cats a problem?
People living in areas with feral cat populations have a litany of complaints. Feral cats are nocturnal, so they hunt, socialize, breed, and fight at night. Howling cats can interrupt the sleep of human neighbors. They use flowerpots, flower beds, and vegetable gardens as public litter boxes. Feral cats that seek shelter in urban areas do not always clean up after eating and leave behind animal carcasses on porches and sidewalks.
Feral cats are a significant problem for wild birds. Cats kill an estimated 2.4 billion each year in the U.S. and up to 350 million per year in Canada. They also scare birds away from backyard feeders and bird houses, which upsets many bird-watching enthusiasts.
What medical problems do feral cats have?
Pet cats have good medical care and proper nutrition, so they live longer than stray or feral cats. Immunizations protect pet cats from contagious diseases like feline leukemia, respiratory infections (bacterial and viral), and rabies. Infections in pet cats do not spread quickly, due to testing and isolation protocols, along with targeted vaccination. Parasite prevention protects pet cats against heartworms, fleas, ear mites, tick-borne infections, and intestinal parasites. Good hygiene prevents bacterial and fungal infections.
Feral and stray cats do not get good medical care and can suffer a variety of ailments that shorten their lives.
- Lack of immunization, parasite control, adequate nutrition, and hygiene put feral cats at risk of many life-threatening problems.
- Feral cats live close together, and these close quarters encourage the transmission of contagious diseases and parasites.
- Lack of nutrition suppresses their immune systems, making them more vulnerable to a host of diseases.
- Random breeding and fighting with other cats exposes them to bacterial and viral infections, such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FLV).
How are feral cats managed?
There are many community- and government-funded programs dedicated to managing feral cat populations. While programs vary, they all have the same goals: protecting cats, other animals, and people.
Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) programs humanely trap feral cats and partner with veterinarians to spay and neuter them. Many programs vaccinate the cats for rabies and other infectious diseases. Although repeat immunizations are unlikely, the cats receive some degree of protection from these vaccinations. After surgery and immunization, the cats have one ear “tipped” (the tip of the ear is surgically removed) to indicate they have been sterilized, so they are not captured again.
TNR programs are endorsed by the National Animal Control Association and the Humane Society of the United States and have successfully reduced the population of feral cats. TNR is an ongoing effort, as there is no permanent remedy for feral cats. Many local programs facilitate TNR efforts and adopt feral cat colonies. When people intervene and care for a colony, it is called a managed colony. Care may include food, water, and shelter. Some groups provide veterinary care and work patiently to socialize cats for eventual adoption. Organized programs dramatically increase the life expectancy of feral cats.
With early socialization in managed colonies, kittens born to feral cats can be domesticated. Learning to live with humans in protected environments increases their lifespan tremendously. Programs that target kittens not only help individual cats survive, but also further reduce the feral population by removing kittens from the reproductive pool.
What can you do to help manage feral cats?
- Financially support volunteer efforts and TNR programs. Call local humane societies and rescue organizations to find out where to donate funds.
- Stay safe. Remember that feral cats are afraid of people and may lash out in self-defense. Never approach or corner a feral cat. Allow him to come to you. Leave trapping to the professionals. Incorrect trapping can injure you and the cat.
- Feed responsibly. If you feed a feral cat, you may help one cat, but you are contributing to the overall feral cat problem. To avoid inviting feral cats to your house, feed your own pets indoors.
- Put up a “no vacancy” sign. Close openings in garages, sheds, and under porches where feral cats may seek shelter. Cats have a very keen sense of smell, so use commercial or natural odor repellents to discourage visits to your garden or flower beds. Place motion-activated lights or noise traps (cans of beans, bells) that will deter jumping on cars and fences.
- Call for help. Report feral or stray cats to the authorities that can help them.
It is sad to have to discourage cats from living wild, but feral cats can be a problem for people and other cats. Rather than contribute to the problem, help manage it.
