You are unlikely to see them during the busiest times of day, unless they are the offspring of tame cats and are used to being fed at a particular time. She is former editor-in-chief of OMNI, executive editor of Discover, and currently the psychology and health editor of Aeon. Feral cats show a w ide range of behaviors toward people. Usually the main way you can tell is to see the size of her teats. Sometimes a cat shows up in your neighborhood or on your doorstep, and it’s obvious that the cat is feral. If you have your own feline friend with access to the outdoors, understanding whether you have a feral cat or simply a stray cat on the prowl is an important piece of information to keeping your kitty safe and healthy. Strays and housecats are crepuscular, which means they tend to be more active at dawn and dusk. Feral cats are usually awake at night, as cats are naturally nocturnal animals. The presence of either one indicates that the cat in question is not a feral cat. Stray cats tend to live by themselves, while feral cats usually live in colonies with other feral cats. Look for one ear, usually the left, that’s cleanly squared-off rather than pointy. The next thing you can look for is the presence of something that would indicate human contact. The experts agree that food should not be placed inside of the cat shelter. The feral life cat expectancy is a lot shorter than house cats. But if the cat avoids you, or runs away, it's hard to tell. They are wary of any human , no matter how friendly, and will most likely not eat food right in front of you. Maybe not in droves to begin with, but remember, patience is key. Buy your own copy of The Meaning of Meow to learn more about your kitty. For the last two years, much of her work’s focus has been on covering animal psychology and the animal mind. You can use the section above to help you with that. When you see a cat outside, at first glance, it's often impossible to know whether or not the cat is feral, or domesticated. A feral cat will rarely meow, whereas a stray cat might meow if it feels comfortable. Just know that an ear tip only means it has been fixed; it is a myth that it means it is feral. The difference between stray and feral cats While stray and feral cats share some commonalities there is … A cat that has been “ear-tipped,” for example, is almost certainly feral. If they survive as a kitten, the average lifespan of a feral cat is 2 years. “If it comes and rubs on your leg or meows at you, it’s a house cat,” says Jessica Gotthold, CEO of The National Foundation for Animal Rescue. But use caution: Get someone to help if the cat tries to scratch or bite. Cats out and about during the day, are more likely to be strays or outdoor cats with a home. It’s important to know the difference between a feral cat versus a stray cat since the behavior can vary widely between the two. If the cat comes up to you, rubbing on your legs, then it's a sure thing the cat is domesticated. This mark indicates that a feral cat has been trapped before and spayed or neutered. As a cat’s breasts and nipples begin enlarging in anticipation of the arrival of kittens, … If you see a feral cat, there are a lot of things that you can do to help them. Now you may be thinking to yourself: what about food? In other words, look for a flea collar or an ID chip embedded in the ear. If you are unsure about whether the cat is stray or feral, you can call the Cats … Feral cats are essentially wild cats. While feral cats probably live in a colony of feral cats, stray cats will often live alone and may even look malnourished as they are … Do these things and the feral cats will come! Not every cat living outside is lost or abandoned. Feral cats tend to keep their distances from view or they stay within their home range in the outskirts. A feral cat is not likely to ever become a lap cat or enjoy living indoors. It is a big issue. Here's what to do if your cat goes missing. If you see a cat out roaming at night, it is most likely feral. However, a feral cat is a cat that has lived away from humans for its entire life. Since stray cats have once been socialized, meaning they’ve been around people and most likely lived in a home, they are often not as skittish as feral cats. Stray Cat: Here’s How to Tell the Difference appeared first on Reader's Digest. A feral cat’s level of socialization and behavior is not always black and white, particularly for feral cats that recognize their caregiver. Place your hand over your cat's left side, right behind his/her front leg. A feral cat may belong to a larger feral colony; A stray cat may walk and behave like a house cat. Because a female cat can become pregnant as young as 16 weeks of age and go on to have two or three litters a year, the feral cat population -- and the problems associated with it -- grows and perpetuates. Another sign that a cat is feral rather than stray is that they may have had their ear ‘tipped’. They will get closer to humans, and also exhibit comfortable behavior such as meowing, rubbing their heads on objects nearby humans, or rolling on their backs. A dried-out flea and worm collar suggest the animal has been away from home for some time. A feral cat means a cat that is not owned by a caretaker and has lived at least the majority of its life outside in the wild. Some pets are cruelly abandoned to fend for themselves, but there’s just as good a chance that a non-feral cat you find hanging around your yard has an owner somewhere who would like to see her come home. There a couple key differences between a feral vs stray cat. How to tell if a cat is feral There are a few key signs to look for when determining whether a cat is feral. Can a cat cycle in … Unfortunately, it can be difficult for many shelter workers to tell the difference between a cat who is a social animal, used to humans, but severely stressed out or afraid, and a truly feral cat. Things to Know Before You Tame a Feral Cat. A feral cat will rarely meow, whereas a stray cat might meow if it feels comfortable. Always air on the side of caution and give the cat space rather than trying to approach or otherwise interact with a cat that shows signs of fear. An abandoned cat, sometime referred to as a stray cat, will be much more open to human contact. A feral cat usually comes out in the dark, while stray cats are active during the day. Some are extremely fearful of people and may flee when they see people or when people try to approach them. I made this website with the purpose of writing everything I know about cats, as well as sharing pictures of my cat Milo. Another helpful hint: If you do decide to become a caretaker, squat or sit on the ground so you're at their level when you regularly feed them. Male feral cats on average have a wandering distance of 25 acres, but some travel up to 740 acres on a regular basis. There are many key characteristics that distinguish a feral cat from a stray cat. They differ from strays, which are cats that were once pets but that have since been abandoned, as well as free-roaming cats, which are usually pets allowed to roam outside (they may also be ownerless cats who have a generous caretaker (common in cities) who provides them with food but not shelter). Hi, I'm Jess. It prevents those who work with feral cat colonies from retrapping cats unnecessarily. Assess whether the bpm is at a healthy or below-normal level. If the cat seems nervous of humans, then you can probably guess it is feral. Through daily feedings, in time they will let you know if it's acceptable to touch them. First, you will want to see if that cat is actually feral, or if it is a stray cat. It has a good chance of being either. Look for one ear, usually the left, that’s cleanly squared-off rather than pointy. “Bring food out, earn their trust.” These before and after pictures of rescue cats will melt your heart. Some lost or stray domesticated cats, however, won’t be that comfortable with you right away. A cat that has been “ ear-tipped,” for example, is almost certainly feral. Before you know it, your shelter will show signs of use and that’s a guaranteed warm, fuzzy feeling. In seven years, a single female cat and their kittens can produce 420,000 more cats. Let the feral or stray cat come closer to you on his/her terms. “Sit outside with them, even if you can’t touch them,” says Doreen Kaminski, a longtime volunteer with Whiskers Pet Rescue in Southbury, Connecticut. See if the cat approaches you. Some of them might have been born as a house cat, but they escaped into the wild for one reason or another (abuse, abandonment, etc. I am a member of Amazon Affiliate program which means on some pages I will be advertising and linking to Amazon.com where I earn a comission from qualifying purchases. Feral cats are usually crepuscular and most active at dawn and dusk. Hormonal changes that prepare cats for breeding—a process called estrus or oestrus—begins around six to ten months of age. Ferals are most often found living outdoors in groups known as colonies. Feral cats go into heat less frequently—usually around twice per year. 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