02/10/2025
❓Have you ever wondered if the cat you see in your neighborhood is a STRAY cat or a FERAL cat?
Being able to distinguish between the two allows you to determine how to best care for that cat.
🐈 A stray cat is typically a cat who lived indoors and/or was socialized to people at some point in its life, but has left or lost its home, or was abandoned, and no longer has regular human contact.
🐈 A feral cat is an unsocialized outdoor cat who has either never had any physical contact with humans, or human contact has diminished over enough time that the cat is no longer accustomed to touch.
🐈 Note that there are semi-feral cats that have both stray and feral characteristics. Semi-feral cats typically trust their caregivers over time but still prefer not to be touched or to live indoors.
‼️ No matter if it's a stray, semi-feral, or feral community cat, please make sure the cat is spayed/neutered and vaccinated so the cat doesn't contribute to the cat overpopulation crisis and to end the suffering.
If you need information about Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR), please see our "How to TNR" information on our website ... https://www.friendsofferalfelines.org/how-to-tnr.
IF there are resources and rescues in your community, finding an indoor home for a friendly community cat is an option.
Feral/unsocialized community cats should be returned to where they were trapped. If resources aren't readily available to find a friendly stray cat an indoor home, return that stray kitty to where they were trapped as well.
(Content courtesy of Alley Cat Allies)
