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Stray vs Feral Cats – What you Need to Know

3/10/2016

34 Comments

 
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Kitten season is my favorite time of year. Furever Home typically helps 75 new kittens find their loving furever homes and, while most of the kittens are being cared for by our generous foster families (and a big thank you to them – we couldn’t do it without your support!), many kittens aren’t as lucky. Lancaster County’s feral cat population was up 60% last year, with estimates showing that there could be 84,000 feral cats in the county.
 
It is a big issue. Here are some guidelines on how you can help.
 
The difference between stray and feral cats
While stray and feral cats share some commonalities there is a big difference. Stray cats are socialized to humans – in most cases they were once pets who have either become lost or were, unfortunately, abandoned, while feral cats have had very limited (or no) interactions with humans and have reverted to a wild state. Stray cats may become feral as their contact with humans dwindles or, in a happier scenario, become loving pets again if they are taken in.
 
Feral cats typically fear humans. In most cases, unless they are very young at the time of adoption, they do not enjoy living indoors if someone were to take them in. They do, however, bond with their colony. Although you might wish to rehabilitate a feral cat, if they are not socialized by about 5 month of age, it is almost impossible to turn them around. They are best left to live their lives outside.
 
How to tell the difference – a few signs
  • Strays may approach people, houses or cars while feral cats will likely seek a hiding place.
  • Strays will most likely be alone while feral cats may live in colonies.
  • Stray cats may walk and move like a house cat with its tail in the air and he might make eye contact with you while feral cats could crouch and protect its tail and avoid eye contact.
  • Stray cats could be vocal – you could hear them meowing and could respond to your voice while feral cats won’t meow, beg or respond.
  • Stray cats are active during the day while feral cats are primarily nocturnal.
  • Stray cats could look dirty and disheveled but feral cats could have a clean, well-kept coat.
  • Many cats you find may have one of their ears cut or tipped. This is a universal sign that the animal has been spayed or neutered through a feral surgical clinic. This does not necessarily mean that the cat is feral, however. Unfortunately, because it is very cheap surgery, many people abuse the system by taking their cats to these clinics while not disclosing that they own the cat or that it is tame. 
 
One of the most important things for you to remember is that feral is a designation of behavior, not location.

Should I approach a cat if I see one outside?
If you are thinking about approaching an unknown cat you find outside, be cautious. Cat bites and scratches can be harmful. Follow the lead of the cat and if it is friendly to you, take your time and get to know it to build up trust. Stray cats may tolerate touching while feral cats will not – not even by a caretaker who feeds it. As you get to know a stray it will relax over time while a feral cat will remain tense. If they feel threatened, a stray will hiss while a feral cat could lash out aggressively.
 
As stated above, feral cats tend to live in colonies and, together, they will defend their territory. They typically live where they can find food and shelter – such as an abandoned building near a restaurant dumpster or under the porch of someone who feeds them even though there is no other interaction.
 
So how can I help?
With a stray, begin by leaving food out for it at the same time each day. As it comes around more, slowly get to know it until the trust is there and you can pet it. If you’re thinking about taking it into your home, be sure to take it to a vet first for shots, neutering, flea treatment and a health checkup – especially if you have other pets. A trip to the groomer will probably also be in order.
 
Whether or not you take the cat in, the first thing you should do is to have the animal scanned for a microchip. Many animals are given away or sent to shelters while their owners are frantically looking for them. Call the local vets and give a description of the animal, take a picture and make a flyer and post it in local vet offices, supermarkets and public places. Ask around the neighborhood. Facebook is an excellent way to advertise a found animal. Craigslist has a very active lost and found pet section in Lancaster. FIND TOBY in PA, lancaster county pa lost found & rehoming cats and  Lost Pets of PA are excellent Facebook resources dedicated to posting lost and found animals.
 
If you are unsuccessful finding an owner, you may want to attempt to contact a no-kill shelter to see if they are taking in animals. Be aware that most rescues are very overwhelmed over kitten season and cannot accept the high number of requests that they get to take in animals. Furever Home gets about 30 calls and email per week from people asking them to take in cats.
 
Feral cats, on the other hand, should not be approached. If you have feral cats in your neighborhood, the responsible thing to do is to contact a local feral clinic such as Pet Pantry of Lancaster County and ask to rent a "have-a-heart" trap, which humanely traps the cats. This is a complicated process because you must trap the animal the night before the surgery and take away its food. Call first and Pet Pantry will give you instructions on what is involved in trapping and having an animal spayed/neutered.
 
It’s important to note that you must call the clinic for an appointment before trapping the cat as you can’t leave the cat in the trap longer than 12-18 hours.
 
After surgery, it is a wonderful help if you provide shelters for the feral cats. For great suggestions, see the website of Alley Cat Allies for ideas on how to build outdoor shelters. Furever Home is also happy to assist you to build an outdoor shelter. The final step is providing regular food and water for your outdoor friends.
 
Furever Home has five colonies of feral cats that we feed, helping over 100 cats. And we greatly appreciate any dry cat food donations to help us with this cause. To see our full wish list, click here.
 
To donate and help us with this county-wide issue, please visit http://www.fureverhomeadoptioncenter.com/donate.html.
 
Questions? Let us know in the comments section.


34 Comments
Jewel Haines
7/29/2017 11:50:18 pm

Hi, could you please help me with how to take in a feral kitten!? I feed a colony of about 20. The kitten is much smaller than her siblings, and she is about 1 month old. I can get about 1 foot away from her. I have made progress. We have 1 Husky dog who is good with cats and 1 indoor cat who has never been around other cats or outside. Any advice you could please give would be greatly appreciated! 😊

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JOPESTKIL KENYA link
10/11/2018 03:28:56 am

Feral cats, wild cats, stray cats and many others we have many names for the mysterious felines we sometimes see peeking out from under our porch or darting into abandoned buildings. Yet most of them share a single destiny short, difficult lives.Fortunately, helping feral or abandoned cats isn’t difficult.
Feral cats often live in vacant lots, dodge cars, and eat from trash cans; face infection, disease, and an endless cycle of pregnancy; and suffer extremes in treatment and weather. The life of a feral, stray, or abandoned cat is often short, sometimes lasting for just two or three years.
Of course, feral cats also leave issues on the human doorstep including noisy fights, fleas, mites, odor, urinating to mark territory, and the inevitable breeding that creates even more unwanted cats.
Many experts agree that one of the best ways to help feral cats and cat groups called colonies is through neutering programs and other chemical control measures by professional pest control operators.

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JOPESTKIL KENYA link
10/11/2018 03:37:42 am

Feral cats, wild cats, stray cats and many others we have many names for the mysterious felines we sometimes see peeking out from under our porch or darting into abandoned buildings. Yet most of them share a single destiny short, difficult lives.Fortunately, helping feral or abandoned cats isn’t difficult.
Feral cats often live in vacant lots, dodge cars, and eat from trash cans; face infection, disease, and an endless cycle of pregnancy; and suffer extremes in treatment and weather. The life of a feral, stray, or abandoned cat is often short, sometimes lasting for just two or three years.
Of course, feral cats also leave issues on the human doorstep including noisy fights, fleas, mites, odor, urinating to mark territory, and the inevitable breeding that creates even more unwanted cats.
Many experts agree that one of the best ways to help feral cats and cat groups called colonies is through neutering programs and other chemical control measures by professional pest control operators.

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Star
6/7/2020 05:59:53 am

Chemical control, pest control? You are talking about killing them????? That is inhumane, unacceptable, and in many states now criminal.

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Julie Smith
10/21/2020 04:57:27 am

What a stupid thing to post about chemical programs. Ban this idiot from making posts on this site!!

Pam
12/22/2018 02:05:22 am

Thank you for sharing this valuable information!! I care for several ferals in their respective colonies. It's very rewarding as they grow to trust you, welcoming you with chatter as you arrive to feed them. I'm poor because of them but I love doing it!! :)

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Diana
1/17/2019 10:37:42 pm

I took in what I believe is a feral cat. He seems healthy I am gathering the money to take him to a vet. He hides during the day but stays with me at night and plays. He is about one. I have been feeding him for 7 months and couldn’t leave him as I moved. Do I have to give him away now?

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Angie
3/1/2019 09:34:51 am

I recently started feeding a cat that seems very afraid. He is very vocal ( meows lot ), especially so I can leave it to eat, but I do not think he is feral. He comes alone to eat, but is not very friendly with me, and does not come near me unless I have food. I made an appointment to get him neutered, and I would love to keep him inside with my other cat if he is not microchipped, but I am not sure if he would like that. How can I gain his trust to possibly give him the option of becoming an indoor kitty?

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Lilith
8/19/2019 11:25:38 am

I’m Lilith Marceline from the United States, i was been transformed to a Vampire through the help of Vampire Family in California, it was just as easy as possible, at first i was thinking it going to take a while for my ( D.N.A.) to respond to the spell, all i did was just to follow the procedure that i was been told, and i bet you that procedure I took change my entire life to something i ever desire, freedom, sickness free, pains free, fame, influence, connections and even more that i can. Thanks to my dear friend Mr. Enrique who directed me to Mystic vampire home.

if you wish to be like me contact the vampire at immotalspiritualhealinghome@outlook.com

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covid 19
5/1/2020 02:56:12 am

LILITH IS NOT A CAT- SHE ISMORE LIKE A FEMALE DOG,,, A SERIOUS B-TCH

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Diana Bishop
6/8/2020 02:30:53 am

Yeah, whatever. Keep telling yourself that.
Now tell us all...what does this have to do with cats?

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Anne Seymour Brentworth
1/23/2020 07:05:13 pm

I have rescued eleven cats (seven were abandoned kittens), two were self invited guests who never left, one abandoned at Vet’s back door, Several months ago I awoke to my. cats growling. Surprised, I noticed a very skinny smoke color ‘cat’. Forgot to mention, I had been leaving a large bowl of dry cat food/water outside for one of my grown males who started to stray from home for weeks. I also left the front door cracked open, hoping he would retune. He eventually came home to stay. I continued to leave food outside because I could hear several cat’s fighting at night. I still left the door cracked open. I had NEVER heard of feral cats. Now to continue; The# Eleven was eating dry food which I started leaving in the hallway because the outside food was always empty by morning. When I looked at he , he immediately ran away. When he returned, I spoke softy to him to reassure him he was safe. Nowadays he come directly to my hospital bed where I feed him albacore tune, canned salmon, and dry food which is what I feed all my babies. He is very tense, and alert, his meow is different from my cats, and his face is very thin and sharply triangular. My other cats have learned to give him a wide brith. His name is now Smokey. Peace be with you CAT LOVERS. I will build a Colony Home in the wooded area near me; thank you for the enlightenment, Anne

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De Clasen
3/23/2020 09:09:09 pm

I am 66 years old and have been taking care of stray and Ferrell 🐈 since I was approximately 50 when over a few days I had 2 🐈 die on my porch and yard. I found out through neighbors there was an elderly lady who had been feeding approximately 10 to 20 cats not always showing up daily had passed away and nobody was feeding them anymore so I who always had dogs and knew nothing about cats and had 2 50 lb. Bags of dog food left from my Bassett Hound who at 21 had passed away 2 months earlier and was going to donate to the shelter, not knowing that dog food wasn't the best for 🐈 started putting it out for them 2 times a day in 3 locations. The 100 pounds lasted me about 4 months. I started buying catfood made for outside cats and put out a
3/4 cup per day for each cat I counted divided over 2 feedings because they didn't always come for both.I started saving money to have sterril Ferrell 🐈 trap and take to the University Vet School to have them clipped and fixed which took over a year to do and before finished had a total of 25 new kittens all to take care of. I brought all of the kittens into my house and raised and tamed them until they were 6 to 12 (when the last found homes) weeks of age. I work with the public and there is over 400 employees where I am as well as a lot of my regular customers and found good homes for all but one who when I went to check on was not happy and I took him back and now I have him in the house, he is now about 16 years old, as well as 2 others that have been added, the max allowed by the city. I do have 7 others that live in my yard full time in their outdoor housing. Over the years my cats I take care of now total 43 full time and an extra one every now and then. I have had to relocate groups of them to other places and change the feedings to once a day for the ones away from my house due to time and cost in taking care of them, especially with the 3,600 I still owe the vet for taking care of sick and injured ones.....all of my Ferrell cats are tame for me which took years to accomplish. They all also come to me when I call them easy enough be ause they are all Kitty Kitty except for the ones in my house, but except for Lucy even they only answer to Kitty Kitty and not their names. When you go into Walmart in my town most of them know about all the 🐈 I have, especially when they see me leaving with a minimum of 2 carts full of nothing but cans and bags of cat food, flea meds ect.....I have had to take a second job starting 3 years ago to take care of them which I can't stop doing eventually I thought they would think out to death by age but that's not happening yet because one seems to replace one that I loose..........Now with the Corrina Virus my income is reduced and I am having trouble taking care of them and not only because of my advanced years I can't find another job to help because everything is closed with the State quarantine. I have maxed out all of my cards and food able to get from banks for them. The pet stores that gave me damaged food are closed and I have already lost @ least 3 of them to coyotes I am assuming because they were weak........I need help feeding them from anyone who can. I figure that purchases could be made for me online and sent to the Walmart I work at with the purchases prepaid. I use Purina One urinary tract control for my males that have or have had stones. Purina One adult and kitten formulas. Regular Purina indoor and outdoor green and blue bags...mix the indoor in with it to take care of furballs. Same with Special Kitty the blue bag and the green indoor chicken and pea . Pate only for canned food and any kind flavor is fine but only the 3 to 5 1/2 ounce size because I can never get them to all eat the same flavor...here I have spoiled them and made them picky. I buy no other brands of dry food other than brands listed, flavors can change .In 2018 my cats were poisoned with Friskies dry cat food. Eleven died and one survived at great medical cost still on my cards and working on getting it paid for. Purina said they would take care of the costs but their insurance never did and when I kept trying to contact them I got shuffled around to different people and could never get calls returned. So I don't feed Friskies or any other that they haven't been constantly fed. Notify me by making comments to this post about how I can contact you if you wish to help until I can work enough again to take care of them on my own. I also need Cats Pride scented litter white container with hot pink lid for all of the cats at house so the landlord will let me keep them and they don't year up the yard. This is the best Kitty litter made if you have it in a tub to keep it deep enough about 1 and 1/2 containers to start and add to it as you scoop out...my 🏠 never smells like cat unless they left poop uncovered and it is also flushable. Thank you in advance for your help if you are able.......De

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Barbara
4/6/2020 09:28:07 pm

I have two cats a indoor and a out door one goes out all the timre buts loves to come back home to eat and sleep he talks to me he lays on me and lets me brush him he is loveable is he feral

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Christin
5/28/2020 04:44:31 am

So before last week, had cats that hung around and I've fed and been fine. One of them then had kittens and I think she hid them in the trashcan of my enclosed patio because she's very protective around that area (won't let me on my patio) and I hear kitty noises.

I've tried calling about 12 shelters so far, but due to a free cat roaming law, I haven't found anyone to take them so far and I'm broke and can't buy them any cat food until the 5th. Does anyone know of any resources of places that will take them or for them to leave my patio without getting scratched? I have a guest that goes to the patio anyways and I'm afraid they'll get injured out of this too which is why I prefer not to wait for 1-2 months

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tanya
6/6/2020 06:42:50 pm

I hate saying this but its the truth. The odds of getting help from animal control of even a shelter is remote. I've been in a few similar situations myself I ended up becoming a volunteer, and fostering 2 litters, who I turned over to the 10 lives club.They were adopted out when they were old enough.

My best recommendation is to attempt catching the mother with a humane trap then, approach the area with gloves and remove the kittens.

Set up a dog crate indoors large enough to house them, if your willing to take this route.

Before taking this step I suggest doing some digging, odds are there are other volunteers in your area that can assist you and find a suitable foster parent. I'm in buffalo ny, otherwise Id have volunteered to assist you.

Just go online and do a search for places like the 10 lives club. there's a good chance you will find help that way in your area.

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Julie
6/8/2020 02:57:21 am

Try doing a Google search for ”cat rescue" and the name of your county. I've had a momcat with 4 kittens living under my house...the local SPCA was no help because of COVID, even though they would never have to get near me. I was desperate because there are owls and foxes where I live that could eat the cats, or they might get hit by a car. So I did the search I mentioned above and found a local cat rescue! I've lived here for 60 years and never knew about it, even though they've been doing this for over 20 years! They helped me trap ALL the cats today (with a humane trap), including the momcat. I caught the final kitten at 11pm, and since the rescue people can't come back until morning, I brought the entire trap and kitten in the house for the night (I didn't want her to be left out cold and alone all night). It was actually quite easy! It probably helped that I had been putting food and water out for momcat every night for the last three weeks so she kinda got used to me being around. Also, I don't think she was feral... When I caught her with two of the kittens, she didn't growl or hiss at all, but those kittens would definitely have grown up to be feral...they were terrified, and throwing themselves against the door of the trap so I quickly covered it.
I'm so glad the rescue was able to help me. Tomorrow the last kitten will be reunited with her mommy and siblings and will hopefully find forever homes. 😻 Hope I never have to go through this again! 🥺

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chewy promo link
6/18/2020 09:48:18 am

Thank you for information. I also bought a Pet Supplies with the help of the Barkbox Promo Code and this is the best way to buy a pet with a discount. Low prices are normally a real benefit of the e-commerce pet stores which carry pet supplies. Many times the prices are lower and even the quality is better from the online pet supplies shop. Local stores buy from different suppliers who offer discounts for larger orders. Small local stores cannot compete with the purchasing power of the larger nationwide chains.

Lynda Hamblen link
10/2/2020 05:58:10 pm

Cats love to share their hunting success with their members and owners. So, if you ever find an unwanted gift on your doorstep, do not fret. Your cat just basically wants to thank you for taking care of him or her.

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Nhala carroll
10/11/2020 10:47:57 am

Hello, I found an unnuetered and sick looking cat who had signs of past ear infection that had not been treated, I took him to my job where we work to get cats adopted. I was contacted that night I found him by a women that feeds him and wants him back on the street. I told her I would see what I can do. I don't want the cat back on the busy street mating and we can't do treatment for free if I could give him back. The decision was not up to me, I told my boss and he basically said no we can't give the cat back. What should I tell her?

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Julie Smith
10/21/2020 05:06:50 am

Tell her too bad, that you are rehoming him and that no cat should be living on the "streets" fending for themselves from cars and coyotes!

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Louise
11/15/2020 05:35:23 pm

Is it bad to touch a feeding dish for a feral cat? Can one catch a disease?

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Makayla
11/26/2020 10:36:43 am

Hello and Happy thanksgiving friends! After reading the article and many comments I am hoping someone can help me with my situation? This morning my mother caught a (I believe) stray kitten on her morning walk with my dog. She had been seeing this kitten for months now and we believe it is 5 months old. My dog heard it crying and laying in the snow so my mom finally caught it and took it in. Shocker, my dad isn’t pleased with her findings and wants it gone. They have asked me to take it until it find a a home or somewhere safe however my issue is; I have 2 cats myself and am very worried about them catching something from it, even if I wash after touching it. With it being thanksgiving, are there any places I can take it to get tested and make sure it is safe before I take my next step? I hate not being able to help an animal but cannot put my loves at risk. They are my sun in the mornings! I appreciate any help!!

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Stef
11/30/2020 11:46:57 am

Ummmm...was looking for info about feral (not Ferrell, he's a comedian) cats and came across this. The comments are killing me. I'm afraid if I keep reading I may become a crazy cat lady. Can this happen if I talk about cats? Can I build a sanctuary near my home and save the world, or should I become a vampire? So many decisions...meow

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Bethany
1/5/2021 03:50:53 am

Best. Comment. Ever!

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Jennifer Patrick link
12/2/2020 08:50:37 am

In fact, homeless cats suffer a lot. We will always be aware of our cats. I will ensure that their abode is a safe haven.

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Dorian Ford
12/14/2020 06:38:19 pm

i

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Rachel link
12/15/2020 12:47:15 am

Hey, Such an excellent article..! I really loved to reach you and read this amazing content. I enjoyed reading this after I saw this article because you have presented some good points here. Your enough information and guides definitely help me to learn some new points and tricks Thanks a lot for sharing. Keep it up..!

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Bob link
12/28/2020 06:37:22 pm

I like your neutering tips. My cat isn't neutered. I'll have to take them to the vet.

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Rebecca Gellars link
1/12/2021 08:27:15 pm

Very creative post.

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Lynda Hamblen link
1/25/2021 05:45:00 pm

I have been reading posts regarding this topic and this post is one of the most interesting and informative one I have read. Thank you for this!
Do you know how cool cats are? If you are someone who loves cats, who has a pet cat, or planning to get one, this article <p><a href="https://www.williamandtibbybook.com/fascinating-facts-about-cats/">Fascinating Facts About Cats</a></p> is just for you. This will give you fun and amazing facts about cats that you might not know. This will help you fully appreciate cats.

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Rebecca Gardner link
1/28/2021 03:30:23 pm

Thanks for explaining that stray cats will have one of their ears cut if they're spayed or neutered at a clinic. My sister and her husband found a stray cat that they're going to adopt since it wasn't microchipped. Maybe I'll suggest they take the cat in for an ultrasound since on the off-chance it's pregnant from not being spayed.

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Peterboyce link
3/1/2021 07:15:11 am

Your very own commitment to getting the message throughout came to be rather powerful and have consistently enabled employees just like me to arrive at their desired goals.

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Taylor Hicken link
4/7/2021 03:57:35 am

I appreciated it when you shared that it is great to begin by leaving food out for stray cats at the same time each day. In this way, you can ensure that they know where to find food whenever they are hungry. I would like to think if someone wants to help stray animals, he should consider donating some pet foods at the shelters.

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