I have often come across this question of what is the difference between a stray and a feral cat. The answer isn’t as obvious as the question because most people see the two as the same and it’s hard to tell the difference between a mutt and a feral. However, it is important to know the difference and what actions you should take if you have one of these cats roaming your home.
A domestic stray cat can feed outside and will soon stay and allow contact.
ยท A domestic feral cat will gladly eat your food, but will never let you near it, so catching it is the method of choice.
The first and obvious need is to differentiate between the two types of cats. I should backtrack a bit and point out that domestic cats have lived around man for thousands of years (the earliest record is 7500 BC), because farms provided cats with prey. Most farm cats are feral unless the farmer has tamed them by providing food and companionship. This usually started with a litter of feral kittens (called kindles), and who can resist those little clumps of fur? So training them to become social with humans is how they became domesticated.
Domestic cats lived near farms and towns that attracted other small mammals and insects that they could hunt. This created the relationship between cats and humans that continues to this day. Therefore, the domestic cat was feral at some point before it was fully socialized by man. A stray cat is a socialized domestic cat that has unfortunately been abandoned or “strayed” from its owners.
Wild cats by nature do not directly interact with humans, but they have learned to coexist. Feral cats associate with other feral cats and will sometimes associate with feral cats, but not often. Like their ancestors, the wild cat, they tend to stay with their own and resist strangers. They survive quite well without our help, but can present a problem if your home is in their territory. The feral cat is likely to be hostile to you and your pets, which will cause problems with your own pet’s behavior.
Most shelters will not attempt to place an adult feral cat in homes because the feral cat is not domesticated or housebroken like a feral cat. Some unique individuals can deal with them, but most are looking for that loving lap cat and a feral adult is unlikely to warm their lap. If you access a wild kindle (litter of kittens) then there is a good chance of taming them. Shelters are not a good place for a feral cat unless they have an established program to trap, neuter/spay, mark and release. Most shelters are not set up for this and will instead destroy the animal, since they may not be able to place it within the waiting period.
Killing feral cats is cruel and most states have laws that protect domestic cats, both stray and feral. Scientific studies show that reducing feral cats in an area is of no use because other groups of feral cats (called flocks) will take over that territory and continue to populate. The sterilize-and-return plan is better for controlling the feral cat population.
There are people and organizations that specialize in helping feral cats through the catch and release program. Your vet is likely in contact with local people who can help you. You can also learn more about feral and stray cats at Alley Cat Allies, (alleycat.org), a national online organization.
A domestic stray cat can be rehabilitated and become a member of your family or placed in another home. The feral cat does not mix well with humans and is best left alone unless it has become a nuisance. One must contact a local expert to deal with the wild cat.
