Feral Cats

Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return is widely regarded as the most successful and humane method to reduce the feral cat population.

WHAT IS A FERAL CAT? 

A feral cat is a cat born and raised outside with little or no human contact or is a stray that has lived outside long enough to revert to a wild state. Feral cats are elusive and do not trust humans. They are primarily the result of pet owners’ abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, allowing them to breed uncontrolled.

Ferals often live in groups, called colonies, and take refuge wherever they can find food. They live in the shadows —the alleyways, empty lots and condemned buildings. Their lives are short and usually harsh. They struggle to find food and water in an environment filled with the constant threats of disease, starvation, cruelty and predation. They are the abandoned, the lost and the wild—and they need our help.

While a feral cat might look exactly the same as a pet cat, they’re actually very different. Feral cats are wild animals who typically avoid human interaction. They might respond positively to someone who feeds them regularly, but in a captive environment they would regress. When cared for, feral cats are happier outdoors in their own territory—they have their own hierarchies and are able to exhibit their natural behaviors.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STRAY CAT AND A FERAL CAT?

Yes. A feral cat is primarily wild-raised or has adapted to feral life, while we define a stray cat as someone’s pet who has become lost or has been abandoned. Stray cats are usually tame and comfortable around people. They will often try to make a home near humans—in car garages, front porches or backyards. Most are completely reliant on humans as a food source and are not yet able to cope with life on the streets.