Wondering "What is a feral cat?" or "How can you identify a feral cat?" There are many behaviors and characteristics that can be used to identify feral felines.
The term "feral" means "wild animal-like" and it usually refers to an animal (or human) who has avoided captivity or domestication.
What is a Feral Cat?
A feral cat is, in short, a wild cat. A feral cat has never had direct contact with humans, and as a result, he fears people. In most cases, the feral cat is born in the wild. In other instances, a cat is abandoned or lost at a very young age, so he has no memory of positive interactions with humans. As a result, the feline becomes feral and "wild" over time. Older cats who are lost or abandoned tend to fall into the category of "stray" rather than "feral."
The feral cat behavior is more similar to a wild animal than it is to a domestic house cat's behavior. These cats live on the fringes of human society, often opting to live in industrial areas or rural regions, where there are few humans. These cats avoid human contact at all costs and they tend to remain hidden during the day, so many people don't ever realize that there's a feral cat colony living nearby.
How is a Feral Cat's Behavior Different From a Stray's Behavior?
Characteristic feral cat behavior makes it fairly easy to distinguish between a feral and a stray cat. The main difference between ferals and strays is their relationships with humans. A feral cats has never had a meaningful relationship with a human. The feral fears humans, and it can take years for this cat to develop trust (if ever -- some can never be "tamed.")
Stray cats were once domesticated. At one point, the stray was a pet who has since been abandoned or lost. Many stray cats have feral-like qualities and most are hesitant to trust humans, but once trust is established, the stray cat quickly reverts into a domestic pet.
Feral cat behavior is also different in terms of their relationships with other cats. Feral cats usually live in colonies, comprised of siblings, parents and other immediate family members. Strays are typically solitary. They do not live in colonies, though on occasion, a stray cat may form a friendship with another cat.
Feral cats will avoid close contact with humans, even feral feeders and caretakers. Most feral felines will flee if the human gets closer than 20 or 30 feet. True ferals will not allow petting or direct eye contact. A stray cat's behavior is very different in this regard, as the stray will approach a person who provides food. Once trust is developed, the stray will allow petting and he may even nudge your legs or purr.
When humans are nearby, the feral cat will make attempts to stay hidden by remaining under cars, in shrubbery and so forth. And when they move, they will "slink" and exhibit other body language that indicates fear. Stray cats tend to walk out in the open and they usually appear more confident and less fearful when humans are nearby.
A lack of vocalization is another characteristic element of feral cat behavior. Cats rarely "meow" to communicate with other felines. They may growl, yowl or hiss during an aggressive stand-off with another cat, but they generally don't "meow" to communicate; this behavior is reserved for humans. Therefore, if a cat meows at you to indicate hunger or as a greeting, it's likely that you have a stray cat, not a feral.
When trapped, a feral cat will sit very still, whereas a stray cat will panic, vocalize and it may make attempts to escape.
Can You Tame and Rescue a Feral Cat?
Generally speaking, feral cats are wild animals and most cannot live indoors as a pet. Young cats and feral kittens are the best candidates for rescue, though in some rare instances, an adult feral cat can be rescued and tamed. This process can take months or years and it requires lots of dedication. And even once tamed, a former feral may only bond with one person and he may never exhibit "normal" cat behaviors like purring or playing.
Stray cats are fairly easy to tame and rescue. By feeding the cat, animal lovers can form a positive relationship with the animal. Over time, the stray will learn to trust his caretaker, allowing direct contact like petting. Once this occurs, the stray cat can be rescued.
Many cat lovers opt to care for feral cats outdoors. The cats are spayed or neutered via a Trap, Neuter/Spay and Return (TNR) program to prevent uncontrolled reproduction and testosterone-fueled aggression among males. Feral cats who have been spayed or neutered have "ear tipping." The tip of the left ear is removed while the cat is under anesthesia. Ear tipping is the universal sign of the TNR program.
Feral feeders provide food on a daily basis and many will trap sick or injured cats, who are treated and then released. In cold locations, the caretaker may opt to provide insulated or heated shelters for the cats to protect them from the elements.
To learn more about how to care for feral cats, read "How to Feed Ferals and Stray Cats -- Feral Colony Caretaker Tips."
Many cat lovers will opt to catch feral kittens, who are then tamed and placed in loving homes. Often, the kittens are not weaned, so they require lots of care. For more information on raising kittens, read How to Care for Newborn Kittens -- Recipe for Homemade Kitten Formula Substitute.
Also read How to Care for Newborn Kittens With Dehydration.
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
