What is the Difference Between a Feral Cat vs a Stray Cat?
A feral cat is one that is wild-born or adapted to life in the wild, and is NOT socialized to humans. While some feral cats will tolerate some human interaction, most are fearful of humans and cannot be handled. Feral cats tend to live in groups, or colonies. Feral kittens can be tamed into being pet cats, if caught young enough: usually before the age of 8 weeks, but not typically before 4 weeks as they are dependent upon their mother's milk when young.
Feral Cats are sometimes referred to as Community Cats.
A stray cat is a cat who was someone's pet and has become lost. Usually a stray cat is reasonably tame and comfortable around people, but being lost can make the pet cat frightened and more cautious of people than the cat would normally be. Stray cats tend to be completely reliant upon humans to provide food for them as they have adapted to a domesticated life with humans as their caregivers.
A semi-feral cat is usually a feral cat that has adapted to humans to some extent. Alternatively, a semi-feral cat may have been someone's pet cat but is currently very shy or frightened from being lost from home. A semi-feral cat may be comfortable with the caregiver, but still be very frightened of strangers. For example, a semi-feral cat may allow some petting, but may not tolerate being picked up at all. Semi-feral cats may be tamed into house pets with a patient caregiver.
A feral cat is one that is wild-born or adapted to life in the wild, and is NOT socialized to humans. While some feral cats will tolerate some human interaction, most are fearful of humans and cannot be handled. Feral cats tend to live in groups, or colonies. Feral kittens can be tamed into being pet cats, if caught young enough: usually before the age of 8 weeks, but not typically before 4 weeks as they are dependent upon their mother's milk when young.
Feral Cats are sometimes referred to as Community Cats.
A stray cat is a cat who was someone's pet and has become lost. Usually a stray cat is reasonably tame and comfortable around people, but being lost can make the pet cat frightened and more cautious of people than the cat would normally be. Stray cats tend to be completely reliant upon humans to provide food for them as they have adapted to a domesticated life with humans as their caregivers.
A semi-feral cat is usually a feral cat that has adapted to humans to some extent. Alternatively, a semi-feral cat may have been someone's pet cat but is currently very shy or frightened from being lost from home. A semi-feral cat may be comfortable with the caregiver, but still be very frightened of strangers. For example, a semi-feral cat may allow some petting, but may not tolerate being picked up at all. Semi-feral cats may be tamed into house pets with a patient caregiver.
Alley Cat Allies: "The only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats."
A wealth of information and resources regarding feral cats.
Alley Cat Allies Frequently Asked Questions about Feral Cats
Community Cat Programs Handbook: Stray and Feral Cats Resource
Helping Community Cats Through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
ASPCA Frequently Asked Questions about Feral Cats
Feral Cat Colony Care Guide by Alley Cat Allies
Providing TNR, food/water, and shelter for outdoor cats.
Providing Shelter for Outdoor Cats by Alley Cat Allies
From pre-built to easy, moderate, and skilled Do-It-Yourself shelters.
How to Trap a Feral Cat for Spay-Neuter Purposes
How to Age Kittens by Alley Cat Allies
Feral Cat Coalition: How to Tame Feral Kittens
Urban Cat League: How To Tame Feral Kittens
Best Friends Animal Society's Feral Cat Resources
The Vacuum Effect as Explained by Alley Cat Allies
Why Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Works, but Catch-Kill of Feral Cats Does NOT Work to Control the Feral Cat Population
Looking for a Barn Cat?
Outdoor Barn Cats (feral to semi-feral cats) need to be provided cat food and water, as well as shelter to protect them from nature's elements and predators. In return, these cats, adapted to outdoor living, will do an excellent job controlling your rodent population. Even a well-fed outdoor cat will kill mice as it is their natural instinct to hunt.
(1) Taos Feral Feline Friends (TFFF) has feral and semi-feral cats with a low adoption fee. These outdoor cats already come spay/neutered, vaccinated, and screened for FeLV/FIV feline viruses. TFFF is located ~7 miles south of Taos off of Highway 68.
(2) Española Valley Humane has feral and semi-feral cats for placement with no adoption fee. These outdoor cats already come spay/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Call 505-753-8662.
(2) Stray Hearts Animal Shelter sometimes has feral or semi-feral cats for placement. Call 575-758-2981.
A wealth of information and resources regarding feral cats.
Alley Cat Allies Frequently Asked Questions about Feral Cats
Community Cat Programs Handbook: Stray and Feral Cats Resource
Helping Community Cats Through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
ASPCA Frequently Asked Questions about Feral Cats
Feral Cat Colony Care Guide by Alley Cat Allies
Providing TNR, food/water, and shelter for outdoor cats.
Providing Shelter for Outdoor Cats by Alley Cat Allies
From pre-built to easy, moderate, and skilled Do-It-Yourself shelters.
How to Trap a Feral Cat for Spay-Neuter Purposes
How to Age Kittens by Alley Cat Allies
Feral Cat Coalition: How to Tame Feral Kittens
Urban Cat League: How To Tame Feral Kittens
Best Friends Animal Society's Feral Cat Resources
The Vacuum Effect as Explained by Alley Cat Allies
Why Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Works, but Catch-Kill of Feral Cats Does NOT Work to Control the Feral Cat Population
Looking for a Barn Cat?
Outdoor Barn Cats (feral to semi-feral cats) need to be provided cat food and water, as well as shelter to protect them from nature's elements and predators. In return, these cats, adapted to outdoor living, will do an excellent job controlling your rodent population. Even a well-fed outdoor cat will kill mice as it is their natural instinct to hunt.
(1) Taos Feral Feline Friends (TFFF) has feral and semi-feral cats with a low adoption fee. These outdoor cats already come spay/neutered, vaccinated, and screened for FeLV/FIV feline viruses. TFFF is located ~7 miles south of Taos off of Highway 68.
(2) Española Valley Humane has feral and semi-feral cats for placement with no adoption fee. These outdoor cats already come spay/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Call 505-753-8662.
(2) Stray Hearts Animal Shelter sometimes has feral or semi-feral cats for placement. Call 575-758-2981.