Difference between Stray and Feral Cat

feral cat
Feral cat - a boy cat and it shows - photo by Wabana

The difference between stray and feral cat is that the stray cat is a domesticated cat that has strayed from its home. The cat is at the first stage of being feral. It is pre-feral. Its offspring will be feral if they are born outside of a permanent human home, meaning on the street or in the woods etc. Feral cats are domestic cats that are evolving back to wildcats but they are ill equipped to survive outside the human environment because of thousands of years of domestication.

The feral cat's life is considerably shorter than a domestic cat's life and a permanent indoor cat's life is potentially the longest of all because it is the most protected (but stress brought on by the unnatural environment may reduce lifespan).

The feral cat might live 3 years, while the domestic cat should live 15+ although purebreds live shorter on average (say 11). The true wildcat will live a decent length of time, say 11 years or so because despite the harsher lifestyle they are well able to cope.

Feral cats are often quite a mess health wise, being caught up in territorial fights and getting ill. Domestic cats are protected from this and receive medical care (usually). See damaged cat ears. I feed two stray cats and my companion cat was a stray. The 2 cats that I feed are quite well but one, the male gets hurt in fights requiring veterinary treatment because his injuries turn to abscesses.



Photo:

Comments

Anonymous said…
I have a young cat that i bought from kennels but due to her behaviour i think she is a feral cat. She is very aggresive at times but very anti social. What can I do
April 29, 2011 at 4:43 PM
Anonymous said…
Give her time, be patient, don't force affection and never use your hard to fight or punish her. Allow her to set her own distances with you.

I have seen 100% ferals "coming from the cold" and re-adopt in time. It is cat nature to want to sleep close to other animals (which means you).

You don't really give enough information to really help us help you. Do you have young kids, does she go outside, is your home noisy, was it a mixed dog and cat breeder ... very possibly the "kennel" (cattery) was traumatic for her.
June 17, 2011 at 5:25 AM
Anonymous said…
There are a mother cat and her babies living outside my apartment building behind a dumpster and recycling bins. I feed them but I want to stop them from making more kittens. I found a website for trapping spaying or neutering and releasing them back. Its called "for the love of Grace Spay Neuter Program" in Windsor Ontario. I wanted to help these little babies and the mom. Can anyone help me out?
October 13, 2011 at 4:39 PM
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