Feral and Stray CatsAn Important Difference
- The phrase "community cat" refers to any feline of the genus Felis that is not owned and is kept outside. Community cats include stray and wild animals.
- Cats living in communities exhibit a wide variety of behaviours and levels of sociability. Visit our detailed Cat Socialization Continuum guide for more information.
- You can gauge a cat's degree of socialisation by watching its behaviour, including their body language.
- You can take actions that are in a cat's best interests by being aware of their level of socialisation.
- No matter the socialisation degree of the community cats, trap-neuter-return (TNR) protects and enhances their existence.
All domestic cats, including feral, stray, and pet cats, are members of the same species. However, stray cats and feral cats differ greatly from one another in their interactions and relationships with humans.
Knowing the difference can help you decide how to interact with a cat or what, if any, intervention would be in each cat's best interests, whether you work in a shelter, are a vet, a cat advocate, or simply live in a neighbourhood with community cats.
Socialization is what?
When we refer to a cat as "socialised," we imply that she is accustomed to human company and values it. A cat has to be socialised in order to become accustomed to human contact, human environments, and human sights, sounds, and smells. It requires patience and work from kind people and is influenced by a variety of aspects of a cat's life.
Kittens socialise themselves through engaging with people from an early age by being held, spoken to, and played with. A kitten will grow up fearful of humans and will not be suitable for or content living in households if she is not accustomed to people holding and touching her during this vital window.
What distinguishes a wild cat from a stray cat?
Cats who are pets or stray are socialised with people.
Cats in the wild are not socialised with people. They are socialised with and bonded to the other members of their feline family, but they do not feel the same way about people.
Neighborhood cats
Any member of the Felis catus species that is not owned and resides outside is referred to as a "community cat" by this general term. Community cats include stray and wild animals. Community cats can exhibit a variety of behaviours and levels of socialization, but they are typically unadoptable because they do not want to live indoors.
Stray:
- Cats that have lost their homes, been abandoned, or lived indoors and were socialised to people at some time in their lives are considered stray. They no longer have frequent human interaction.
- As her interaction with people decreases over time, a stray cat may turn wild.
- Perhaps while a stray cat may be sufficiently socialised to allow human contact, if she goes too long without engaging in constructive human interaction, she may lose that socialisation and even go feral.
- A stray cat can revert to being a pet cat in the correct conditions.After spending time outside away from people, stray cats who are brought back into an interior environment may take some time to acclimatise; they may be fearful and distrustful.
Feral:
- Unsocialized outdoor cats that have never had physical contact with people or whose physical contact with people has gotten so infrequent over time that they are no longer used to it are considered feral. The majority of wild cats are scared of people and are unlikely to ever become lap cats or prefer living inside.
- It is possible to socialise and place indoor homes for kittens born to feral cats at a young age.
- Attempting to socialise a wild kitten older than 4 months of age is generally not advised by Alley Cat Allies. It takes time to socialise, especially for older kittens, and there is no assurance of success. Study up on how to socialise kittens.
Why is it important?
- You can choose the best strategy to look after, assist, and safeguard cats by being aware of the many levels of socialisation cats might display. For further information, see "The Cat Socialization Continuum: A Guide to Interactions Between Cats and Humans."
- If people have the time and resources to foster and adopt, stray cats can rehabilitate to living with people and may make suitable candidates for adoption into indoor households.
- Cats that are imprisoned or scared might make it difficult to distinguish between stray and feral cats. Often, frightened stray cats require some time to unwind and demonstrate their level of socialising.
- Due to their lack of human socialisation, adult wild cats cannot be adopted into indoor homes. It is preferable for them to continue living outside since if animal control or shelters take them up, they will probably be murdered.
- Regardless of their level of socialisation, community cats benefit from trap-neuter-return because it saves the lives of feral cats. TNR programmes involve humanely trapping cats, checking them for microchips, spaying or neutering, vaccinating, and microchipping them (if they don't already have one). Strays that are healthy and don't have microchips that indicate they are lost can either be put back outside where they belong or fostered and adopted.
How can I distinguish between the two when the cats are outside?
Using the tips below, it is a good idea to monitor cats on their own outside as they are socialising since it can be challenging to assess each cat's sociability during a stressful event like trapping.
NOTE: The Socialization Continuum has several different interpretations. Both the socialized-stray and the unsocialized-feral categories may not fully fit cats. Using our socialisation continuum guide, discover further possibilities that are feasible.
Socialization with people
stray: may approach porches, cars, residences, or individuals.
Feral: Will avoid contact and is likely to seek cover to do so.
Getting to Know Other Cats
stray: Likely will not belong to a group and will live alone
Wild: Might be a member of a colony
Body Language
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stray: May move and walk like a house cat, showing friendliness by walking with the tail up. most likely will give you a glance, wink, or make eye contact.
Feral: Can crawl, crouch, keep close to the ground, and use tail to protect body. unlikely to look someone in the eye.
Vocalization
Stray: vocal, meowing, or "answering" your voice
feral : Will not meow, beg, or purr
Schedule
Stray: will primarily be seen during the daylight.
Feral: Usually nocturnal, but occasionally seen during the day.
Physical Qualities
Stray: Lacks an eartip and is likely to be filthy or untidy.
Feral: Likely to have a tidy, clean coat. Males who exhibit features associated with intact males, such as a large head and thick neck, a muscular body, or fighting scars are more likely to be feral (although just 2% of wild cats in the U.S. are neutered). Due to increased amounts of testosterone and less time spent grooming, he might also have a spikey coat. He might also have a "stud tail," which is hair loss, greasiness, or lumps at the base of the tail caused by hormones. if neutered as part of a TNR programme, is probably going to have an eartip.
maternity, nursing, and kittens
Since only 2% of feral cats in the United States are neutered, a female who is pregnant or nursing has a higher likelihood of being feral.
Keep in mind that a cat's level of socialisation and behaviour are not always clear-cut, especially in the case of neighbourhood cats who are aware of their caretaker.
They may exhibit signals of familiarity, such as a tail up or loitering on a caregiver's porch, but these actions are typically confined to the caregiver and only appear after a long period of getting to know the person. It's crucial to understand that this behaviour does not necessarily indicate that the cat would be a suitable fit for an indoor home.
When I catch feral cats, how can I tell them distinct from stray cats?
A loving stray cat may behave like a feral cat when in a dangerous or stressful environment, such as a trap or a shelter, avoiding people and possibly even acting aggressively to prevent being touched. Who is to blame for them? The cat is in a strange and new environment.
Here are some methods for telling a feral cat from a terrified stray cat when they are both fearful, confined, or in an unfamiliar environment.
Touch Reticence
Stray: Eventually, it might be possible to touch the cat, or she might be amenable to light object contact.
Cannot be touched by anyone, not even a carer.
Cage Behavior
Stray: Might enter the cage from the front. may finally make pleasant contact with the cage.
Feral: Likely to withdraw as far back as possible and remain in the back of the cage. If startled or alarmed, the animal might shake, rattle, or climb the cage and potentially hurt itself by slamming into it.
Level of Relaxation
Stray: Over time, it may relax.
Feral: Will continue to be tense and reclusive.
Responsiveness
stray: Might explore food or toys provided close to the cage. may react to domestic noises like the opening of cat food cans or bags.
Feral: Likely won't pay attention to any people, toys, or even food. Will not display any interest or familiarity with domestic sounds.
Fear and Anxiety
When stressed, stray animals may growl or hiss.
Feral: If threatened or cornered, will become aggressive and lash out (signs of aggression include ears back and eyes dilated).