Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

6 important things you should know about feral cats

By

If you have cats living around your home, you might be wondering if they’re stray or feral cats. You might even be uncertain of the difference. Feral cats are often misunderstood, but they’re fascinating animals who have found ways to survive in the wild. October 16th is National Feral Cat Day, and it’s also the perfect time to brush up on your knowledge about these cats. Whether you have feral cats living near you or you find all cats fascinating, these six facts can help you better understand how these cats live. And if you think the cats you’re seeing need some help, you’ll also learn how you can best help them — and what you shouldn’t do.

What is a feral cat?

Feral cats are cats who were born wild. Stray cats, in comparison, were usually once someone’s pet.

Recommended Videos

Because feral cats are wild, they are afraid of people. You usually can’t pick them up and hold them, and in most cases, you can’t even get close to a feral cat. With time, you might be able to win over a feral cat’s trust if you take care of it for months, but the cat will probably trust only you and remain afraid of other humans.

Tiger cat sitting in a yard
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A notched ear means a feral cat is spayed or neutered

You might notice that a feral cat has a small notch or slice out of one ear. Called an ear tip, this is a marker that indicates the cat was trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and then released again. This practice helps cut down on feral cat overpopulation, but it gives these cats — who wouldn’t be happy living indoors — a chance to go on living their lives.

Feral cats live in colonies

Feral cats live together in groups, called colonies. The cats in these colonies are related to each other, and they’ll usually take up residence in a certain shelter, like a shed. All the cats in the colony stick to the same territory when seeking out food, making themselves a sort of home within an area, and they all stick together.

Feral cats can cause problems for homeowners

If feral cats move into a space near your home, you might start to experience some problems. Males can fight, the cats could transmit diseases to your cats, flea infestations are common, and toms, or male cats, who spray can create strong smells around your home. It can also be upsetting to see cats who are thin, sick, or suffering.

Two feral cats sitting outdoors by a wall
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Some people care for feral cat colonies

Some people choose to care for the cat colonies who have moved into their property. Feeding the cats can help keep them at a healthy weight, especially during winters when food is hard to find. If you have a feral cat colony, then working closely with your local Trap-Neuter-Return program can help control the population and keep the cats healthier.

Feral cats aren’t suitable to be adopted

If you have a feral cat colony, trapping the cats and taking them to your local animal shelter isn’t the answer. Feral cats are afraid of humans, and adult cats may have spent years in the wild. In some cases, with intense socialization, young feral kittens can learn to trust humans and can be adopted. For feral cats, going to an animal shelter is traumatizing, and many of these cats are euthanized.

Stray cats, on the other hand, were once domesticated and can often be socialized and live comfortably with humans again. Stray cats are often candidates for adoption through animal shelters. Feral cats aren’t. Keep in mind that they’re wild animals.

That’s why it’s so important to understand how feral cats live and why they don’t trust humans. Trap-Neuter-Return programs can help control feral cat populations, keeping cat colonies healthier through vaccines and population management. Feral cats don’t live an ideal life, but people who care for the colonies can help make the cats’ lives easier. Spaying and neutering cats — both feral and domestic — can further reduce the number of feral cats born each year. If you need help with feral cats, call your animal control officer or a local shelter for information on feral cat programs available in your location.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Paige Cerulli
Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
How to help your new cat settle in
Here are the steps you should take to help your cat feel at home with you
Tiger cat lying on a rug

Bringing home a new cat can be stressful for both you and your new furry family member. Fortunately, there are many ways you can help reduce your cat's stress and make the transition period easier. As your new cat settles in, he'll need some support from you, but he'll also need you to be patient with him. He's undergoing a big life change, and as excited as you are for him to be around, the best thing you can do is to give your kitty some time and space while he adjusts. He'll be roaming the house and hanging out with you soon enough if you follow these tips.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for cats?

If you have ever adopted a cat before, you may have heard this often-cited rule for settling in. The rule says that cats take three days to adjust to being in a new place at all and may seem especially hesitant and skittish.

Read more
8 halloween cat names you’ll love for spooky season and all year
Deck your black, white, or orange kitty up in fall style with a name to match
Cute cat in Halloween costume

If you're anything like us, you love Halloween — and so does your cat. A black, white, or orange critter will stand out this spooky season, complete with costume and a name that's on theme. This could look like a Jack dressed up as a jack-o'-lantern or a Maleficent wearing a cute witch hat. Anyone who loves this fall holiday will enjoy calling their kitty by an All Hallows' Eve style moniker year round. Here are the best Halloween cat names that we recommend for any creature.
Best Halloween cat names

Our list of names runs the gamut from pop culture to ancient. We're giving you the top choices so you can select the purrrfect one for your furry friend.
Cobweb
We absolutely adore this label for a kitty, especially because it's the name of the feline in Hocus Pocus 2. You might pick out this one for a black cat with particularly cool markings that will lend itself well to the theme.
Octo
The eighth month is eerie, and so this name fits perfectly for a sneaky cat who loves to pounce when you least expect it. This name could also work for a darling mouser that has eight distinct spots or a similar pattern.
Samhain
Give your fur ball a throwback with this pagan name that used to begin the night of October 31 and lead into the next day. Traditionally pronounced "Sowen," you can say it any way it rolls off the tongue.
Carrie
This one works well for someone who doesn't want their cat's identity permanently tied into October festivities. But every year around the fall, you'll get to go full Stephen King and break out your bloody decorations.
Salem
Made famous in the show Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Salem is a talking cat, and of course, the site of one of the deadliest witch trials in American history.
Black Phillip
A good fit for a feline that's all black with a gung-ho personality to boot -- name your cat after the goat from the movie The Witch and dress them up in horns for the occasion.
Elphaba
Give Wicked a try by adorning your cat with the main character's name, which is handy because you can also refer to them as the Wicked Witch of the West whenever that title applies.
Candy Corn
Last but not least, we have a lot of good names for black cats here, so we wanted to throw one in for the ginger fellows. Any orange and white striped cat would love to go by this famous candy.

Read more
How to tell if your cat is angry at you and what to do
Your guide to angry cat body language
Angry calico cat hissing

Cats can get the reputation of being perpetually grumpy and unloving. These are myths — cats can be playful and remain affectionate even after the kitten stage.

Yet, cats — like humans — experience various emotions, including anger. Even the cuddliest, most mild-mannered kitties have their triggers and moments. Unlike humans, cats can't tell you how they feel using words. Though cats can vocalize — and often will when angry — watching body language will provide the most clues into what your cat thinks about their current situation.

Read more