What is a Feral Cat? 

The word feral is used to describe cats that live outdoors, don’t socialize with people, and basically do not belong to anyone.

In general, the word ‘feral’ refers to members of a domesticated species that have returned to living as wild animals. 

While they are often mistaken for stray cats, there’s a difference. Feral cats do not allow themselves to be handled or touched and have little to no contact with humans. They usually remain hidden from humans and can’t be tamed.

Feral cats are descendants of domestic cats that were lost or abandoned and left to fend for themselves. The offspring of the domestic cat (now considered feral) are usually never handled by people and, as such, become terrified. Many times, when people approach them, they hiss out of fright. 

Given a chance, they run away and hide.   Many misunderstand this behaviour as being vicious, but that is not the case. Virtually all feral cats that are trapped cower to the back of the trap and shake due to fright. Some may even pee due to uncontrolled fright. If the trap were to be in the open, they would likely run away rather than attack.

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In spite of their wild nature, feral cats still require a level of care. With many feral cats living in colonies, the cat population can quickly grow. Spaying and returning the cats to their colony may help stop continual breeding.

Unfortunately, feral cats are distressing to wildlife, and conservation biologists see them as one of the worst invasive species on Earth. Therefore, efforts to control feral cat populations are widespread but usually of the greatest impact within purpose-fenced reserves.  

While most feral cats are highly resourceful when it comes to obtaining food, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep an eye on them during the winter. If you suspect a feral cat has been injured or is sick, they can be trapped and caught and taken to the vet.

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How long does it take for a domestic cat to go feral? 

There is no doubt that if a domestic cat is either lost, abused, or even neglected, it can cultivate feral-like qualities, but a previously domesticated and socialized cat will never become fully feral in nature. In worst-case scenarios, they end up strays and, under certain circumstances, can develop feral-like qualities.

This may be a good thing because such a cat that has been lost, neglected, or abused can once again find peace and happiness in a loving family. If they had learned to live with humans when they were still young, they could quickly return back to their previous domestic state as well. Cats are known to abhor change and stressors, but they can quickly adapt again to a state if the conditions are right.

As defined, a feral cat is a cat that has had little to no human interaction in its entire life. As a result, it will exhibit aggression and/or fear whenever it sees a human nearby.   Feral cats are accustomed to fending for themselves and can use their teeth or claws without much aggravation. So anytime you approach a cat on the street, being cautious may be a good idea.

Going by this definition of a feral cat, a cat that is abandoned or lost cannot be referred to as a feral cat because they have had some sort of human interaction once before. Whether good or bad, these cats are, to a certain degree, responsive to most human interactions. This makes a huge difference.

In other words, domestic cats are not likely to become feral; rather, they will first become strays. Stray cats are mainly cats that are used to having contact with humans and are in some ways socialized to humans. They were once pets and were either lost or abandoned cats by their owners.

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How can you tell if a cat is feral? 

Cats learn at a very young age what is normal and what isn’t during what is referred to as a ‘socialization period.’ Around the ages of two (2) to six (6) weeks, kittens can learn how to enjoy human contact, form a bond, and become great pets.

Feral cats are typically the offspring of stray, feral, or abandoned cats who have missed out on this early experience. This makes them likely be wary of humans.

Some behaviors of feral cats are frequently observed. However, there is a disagreement among researchers, rescuers, and veterinarians on the prevalence of some. In a free-roaming setting, feral cats shun humans. They will not allow themselves to be touched or handled by humans and would always back away and run whenever they are able to do so. If they get trapped, they will growl, hiss, strike out, or bare their teeth. They usually remain fairly hidden from humans and will never approach. However, some feral cats steadily become more comfortable around humans that feed them frequently.

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Most feral cats possess small home ranges. In contrast, some are more fleeting and travel long distances. The home ranges of the male feral cats, which are typically two to three times greater than those of the female ones, are on average under 10 ha (25 acres) but can vary from nearly 300 ha (740 acres) to just under 1 ha (2.5 acres). This modification is often due to age, time of day, access to females, breeding season, availability of prey, and whether the cat is neutered.

Feral cats usually live in groups referred to as colonies, which are sited close to food sources and shelter.

Feral cats target a wide variety of both vertebrates and invertebrates and usually prefer smaller animals with body weights under 100g, in particular lizards, mammals, and birds. Their worldwide prey spectrum includes over 1,000 species; the most commonly observed are the European rabbit, house mouse, black rat, common blackbird, and house sparrow.

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Can house cats become feral? 

Housecats will have to first become strays before going feral. Stray cats are mainly cats that are used to having contact with humans and are in some ways socialized to humans. They were once pets and were either lost or abandoned cats by their owners.

As these stray cats continue to reside outside of a home, there are three options of what may happen:

Option One: They become used to the outside life, and in addition to some interaction with humans, they are in a kind of comfortable limbo where they remain strays for a long period, living off whatever is provided to them by humans or found in nearby trash.

The Second Option: They are lucky enough to be rescued, re-socialized, and given another chance at becoming a member of a loving family. This is the perfect situation for strays.

Third Option: This depends on their lives before they went stray and how much they’ve been neglected/abused. They can develop increasingly driven further away from any human interaction. At this stage, they can develop more feral tendencies as they learn to forget their socialization. However, it does not get to this point as strays are usually poorly unequipped to fend for themselves, and, unfortunately, they can’t live for long without some external help.

Based on how long a stray has been outside, their previous history as a domestic cat, and what they’ve had to tolerate, you will begin seeing, in most cases, signs of increasingly less fearful behavior. 

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It may take a long time and lots of patience and respecting boundaries of what they are capable of at that time with continuous encouragement. It is believed most can adapt and revert to their domestic cat behavior. It’s, however, a process that requires commitment.

Are feral cats dangerous? 

So are feral cats dangerous? There are two sides to this argument. Some claim that feral cats do not pose any threat to humans as a result of their avoidant behavior. 

Unfortunately, since it is near impossible to vaccinate feral cats, some say they are at risk for contracting rabies and passing it to other animals, so they are dangerous. Also, because they have the potential to spread parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, in their feces. These parasites go into the soil and may spread through accidental ingestion.

A large population of feral cats can also prove injurious to the local ecology. Cats are efficient at hunting, and a large group of them can destroy the small animal population. They will regularly hunt for fun and abandon their kills. They are one of the factors in the waning number of songbirds and are believed to be accountable for the extinction of at least 63 species of reptiles, birds, and mammals. 

Science says most of the diseases that infect cats can only be spread from cat to cat and not from cat to human. A person is much more likely to catch an infectious disease from the person standing in line with him at the grocery store than from a cat. 

In a 2002 review of cat-associated diseases published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, it was concluded that “cats should not be thought of as vectors for disease transmission.”

Infectious diseases will only spread from cats to humans through direct contact with either the cat or its feces, and feral cats are known to avoid humans. 

Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that cats are hardly a source of disease and that it is not likely for anyone to get sick from touching or owning a cat. 

In conclusion, feral cats pose less risk to public health than pet cats due to their minimal human contact.

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Understanding feral cat behavior 

Some behaviors of feral cats are frequently observed. However, there is a disagreement among researchers, rescuers, and veterinarians on the prevalence of certain behaviors.  In a free-roaming setting, feral cats shun humans. They will not allow themselves to be touched or handled by humans and would always back away and run whenever they are able to do so. If they get trapped, they will growl, hiss, strike out, or bare their teeth. They usually remain fairly hidden from humans and will never approach. However, some feral cats steadily become more comfortable around humans that feed them frequently. 

Most feral cats possess small home ranges. In contrast, some are more fleeting and travel long distances. The home ranges of the male feral cats, which are typically two to three times greater than those of the female ones, are on average under 10 ha (25 acres) but can vary from nearly 300 ha (740 acres) to just under 1 ha (2.5 acres). This modification is often due to age, time of day, access to females, breeding season, availability of prey, and whether the cat is neutered.

Feral cats usually live in groups referred to as colonies, which are sited close to food sources and shelter.

A ‘managed colony’ is taken care of by humans who go out of their way to provide shelters, veterinary care, supply food and water to the cats, educate people in the neighborhood, implement trap-neuter-return programs, and find foster homes for cats that can be socialized for eventual adoption.

Feral cats target a wide variety of both vertebrates and invertebrates and usually prefer smaller animals with body weights under 100 g, in particular lizards, mammals, and birds. Their worldwide prey spectrum includes over 1,000 species; the most commonly observed are the European rabbit, house mouse, black rat, common blackbird, and house sparrow.

Feral kitten behavior

The first thing that you will notice in feral kittens is they are just like feral cats. They are not socialized to humans themselves. They don’t maintain eye contact with humans.

Some of the common traits you’ll notice in a feral kitten are as follows:

· They are very timid and shy.

· They are highly avoidant to the point of not looking at you.

· They can be timid and aggressive simply out of fear.

Ordinarily, they are temperamental but not as bad as their adult colleagues. So, you may want to tame these little guys quickly and with the right attitude. 

Some other traits you may see with feral kittens are as follows:

· They do not approach humans and will actively seek hiding places in order to avoid them. This is why people usually find feral kittens beneath buildings or in small places far away from humans.

· They have a habit of belonging to a colony, especially kittens with a mother.

· Feral cats do stay low, crouch to the ground, crawl, and protect their bodies with their tails, usually as a result of fear. You will see this in feral cats also, especially if they’re older.

· They never make eye contact.

· They don’t communicate, not even with a purr, a meow, or beg.

· They are inclined to be nocturnal and won’t come out during the day for the most part.

· In spite of being feral, they have a clean and well-kept coat.

· If they are sterilized, they will get an ear chip as a result of the TNR program.

Feral cats are born in the wild and usually homeless, and their kittens are no exception. One thing you may realize is that they may have been left behind by their mother. This is a bit sad. These kittens can be easily trapped and then released.

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Stray Cat vs. Feral Cat

Stray cats are socialized domestic cats who appear not to have an owner, while feral cats are not socialized to humans or the domestic environment and behave like wild animals. 

Below is a list of their differences:

Stray cats 

They are occasionally curious about people and will approach and even try to communicate with them.

Respond to food and toys pretty well.

They can be seen at any point of the day. 

Are friendlier. However, when slightly shy, they approach cautiously, given time and encouragement.

Are always alone.

They don’t have ear tips even if neutered.

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Appear near houses. They are likely to be seen in people’s gardens and trying to get into their homes.

Feral cats 

They are not friendly and are unsocialized to humans.

Feral cats see people as a threat. So, they don’t go close, even with encouragement.

Either live alone or with others. At times, they live in a colony with other feral cats.

Have ear tips to show they have been neutered and returned.

Stay away from houses and avoid human contact. Most feral cats neither tolerate any human contact or interaction nor react to anything given to them by a human. Even getting too close will make them flee at once.

Set up a permanent home or shelter.

Are extremely careful and observant. The smallest amount of sound will send them running into cover.

Rarely meow or make noise to avoid drawing any attention to themselves. 

They are most active during dawn and dusk. This makes it difficult to see them randomly during the day. 

It is more common for cats in cities to stray and live as strays because there is a higher chance of having some interaction with humans.

While in rural areas, it’s more likely that cats seen outside are feral, as they have much fewer chances to run into humans.

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Where do stray cats go during the day?

This is a tough question to answer. Generally, it depends on what hiding opportunities are available to them. However, there are some typical places stray cats love to go to during the day.

You should bear in mind that cats are nocturnal. To be more accurate, they are crepuscular – that is, they are most active between dawn and dusk. Due to this, it’s difficult to spot or see them during the day.

To truly understand where stray cats go during the day, you need to understand what motivates them. Stray cats’ basic needs are:

• Food and water.
• Quality shelter and warmth
• A place they feel safe and secure

Some of the common places you may find stray cats are:

Look Close to Home: Although they may be hard to find, cats habitually stick near residential houses. Since that’s where they can often and easily find shelter and food. 

Look in Wooded Areas: If you have any wooded areas close to your home or maybe just some areas with dense bushes and overgrown weeds, look closely. They may be there. Stray cats are usually drawn to wooded areas as it naturally meets all their needs. It may serve as their safe place and security from humans.

Check Abandoned Buildings: Cats love abandoned and deserted buildings. This includes little-used buildings and outbuildings. For cats, it’s always about a place that provides shelter with little to no signs of human activity.

Think Food Sources: There’s no denying that food is a huge motivator for cats. So, if you are looking for stray cats, look to where you think they’d find food. This may be as simple as looking for a neighbor that likes to put food out for stray cats. Or you can look around for bins that they’re able to dive into. You know a cat’s sense of smell is powerful, and a hungry cat’s sense of smell is extraordinary!

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