Frequently Asked Questions
What is a feral cat?
A feral cat is a cat who is born and raised in the wild, or one who has been abandoned or become lost and has reverted back to a “wild,” instinctual state in order to survive. A feral cat is commonly referred to as an “alley cat,” “street cat,” or “community cat.” For in-depth information, read our fact sheet on feral cats here.
What is the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat?
A stray cat is someone’s pet who has become lost or is abandoned. A feral cat is born in the wild and has reverted to a “wild” lifestyle in order to survive. Stray cats are usually tame and comfortable with people. They will rub against legs, purr, and meow. Feral cats are notably quiet and keep their distance. Most feral cats will only venture out at night. Stray cats will also often try to make a home near humans—in car garages, front porches or backyards. Most are completely reliant on humans as a food source and are not yet able to cope with life on the streets.
What is trap-neuter-return (TNR)?
TNR or trap-neuter-return is a humane and effective program for managing outdoor, free-roaming cat populations. Community cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped for identification and returned to their outdoor home. This program compassionately manages community cats through non-lethal means. For in-depth information, read our fact sheet on trap-neuter-return here.
What is ear-tipping and why is it important?
Would it be better for feral cats to be euthanized?
What should I do if I find a stray or feral cat?
What should I do if I can’t keep my cat?
If you cannot keep your cat due to behavioral reasons we recommend you first work with your cat to address the issue. If a cat starts exhibiting “problem” behaviors, they are usually trying to tell you something is wrong. The cat may be suffering from health issues or under stress. First get your cat checked out by your vet because there may be an under lying health issue. If health issues are ruled out, see our cat behavior solutions.
If the reason is not behavioral, reach out to local rescue groups through our Cat Action Teams for help finding a new forever home, or friends and family.
What should I do if I find an orphaned kitten?
First, leave the kittens alone for the first few hours. The mom may simply be transporting her kittens one by one to a new area. If you pick up the kittens you could be taking them away from their mom. Check on the kittens every hour. If the mom does not show up or the kittens look sick you can take them in yourself. Once you have the kittens, you should keep them warm. A very little kitten should be kept on a heating pad, even during the summer months. Wrap the heating pad in a towel or sheet, so that it does not burn the kitten. They cannot regulate their own body temperatures, and may not be able to move off the heating pad if it gets too hot. Ideally, they have their mother and siblings to keep warm.
Next, you should buy some special kitten milk from a pet store, grocery store or your veterinarian. This milk is specially formulated to feed kittens or pregnant or nursing mother cats. Do not give a kitten cows milk. A very young kitten needs to be fed a proper kitten formula, like Goat's Milk KMR or Breeder's Edge, around the clock. If necessary, you can feed kittens regular goat's milk for a short time until you can get a formula. The instructions are on the container. Feed first with a dropper. This is easier to use at the beginning than getting the kitten used to a bottle. Eventually, you can try a bottle. You must stimulate the kitten's tummy after each feeding to make his bodily functions work and have the kitten urinate. Warm cotton balls are perfect for this. Remember the mother cat usually does all of this for him. Just remember to dry the kitten after bowel movements and keep his body temperature warm. As kittens grow stronger and bigger, you can make a “soup” of canned kitten food mixed in with the formula milk.
What should I do if my indoor cat escaped the house? How do I find him?
First, do not panic! This can only make the situation worse. Usually when a cat escapes from a house, he is very frightened by his new surroundings and will find a place close by to hide. Visit your neighbors and ask if they can check these for you. Put food and water out in several places. Scatter his used cat litter around your yard; his familiar scent will help him locate his home. He may be hiding under a nearby bush in your yard or next door.
If you do see him, DO NOT rush at him because you could scare him; this may push him away even further. Take your time and try making friends with him with food (try some treats or catnip). He will be scared; sometimes, escapees act as though they have never seen their guardians before in their lives. If you cannot catch him by hand, it may be easier to use a humane trap to get him.
Keep checking with your local animal control agency and those in surrounding areas to report him missing. Put notices in local newspapers and hang signs with photos on telephone poles and at the vet’s office. In times like these, it is an excellent idea to make sure your cat (and all of your pets) is micro-chipped and the information is up-todate. If your cat is found and taken to a vet or animal shelter, the first thing they will do is scan him for a chip. This will provide them with your contact information and make finding re-uniting you and your pet much easier and more guaranteed. The best time to look for a lost cat is after midnight. It’s usually quieter in the neighborhood and that is the time they will search for food.
A feral cat is a cat who is born and raised in the wild, or one who has been abandoned or become lost and has reverted back to a “wild,” instinctual state in order to survive. A feral cat is commonly referred to as an “alley cat,” “street cat,” or “community cat.” For in-depth information, read our fact sheet on feral cats here.
What is the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat?
A stray cat is someone’s pet who has become lost or is abandoned. A feral cat is born in the wild and has reverted to a “wild” lifestyle in order to survive. Stray cats are usually tame and comfortable with people. They will rub against legs, purr, and meow. Feral cats are notably quiet and keep their distance. Most feral cats will only venture out at night. Stray cats will also often try to make a home near humans—in car garages, front porches or backyards. Most are completely reliant on humans as a food source and are not yet able to cope with life on the streets.
What is trap-neuter-return (TNR)?
TNR or trap-neuter-return is a humane and effective program for managing outdoor, free-roaming cat populations. Community cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped for identification and returned to their outdoor home. This program compassionately manages community cats through non-lethal means. For in-depth information, read our fact sheet on trap-neuter-return here.
What is ear-tipping and why is it important?
- Ear-tipping is a widely accepted means of marking or tagging a feral cat who has been spayed or neutered. It often identifies a cat as being part of a managed colony. Ear-tipping is the surgical removal of 1/4 tip of the left ear (or right ear in California). The procedure is performed by a licensed veterinarian, typically during the spay/neuter surgery. (The cat is under anesthesia while the procedure is performed.) Ear-tipping is safe and is especially important as it prevents an already spayed or neutered cat the stress of re-trapping. The silhouette of an ear-tipped cat is very distinct and easily recognizable.
- Ear-tipping is a life-saver for feral cats, as the cat can now be identified as a cat from a managed and neutered colony, and if trapped inadvertently, can be returned to the colony. In Prince Georges County, Maryland, the law mandates that animal control officers call registered TNR groups when they have an ear-tipped cat brought in.
Would it be better for feral cats to be euthanized?
- Some people feel sorry for feral cats because they may feel that their lives are difficult and dangerous, while others are annoyed by the cats' behaviors and want the cats removed. Whatever the sentiment towards feral cats, many people (even if they want the cats removed) do not want the cats to be euthanized. The majority do not wish feral cats to be trapped and killed.
- Feral cats live just as other wild animals do, facing similar obstacles, but we do not round up all the raccoons, opossums, skunks, and deer and euthanize them. In addition, even if there were enough people and money to even try to remove and euthanize feral cats, other feral cats would move into the vacant territory, taking advantage of the newly available food source and shelter. It's an endless cycle; that is why sterilization via TNR is the preferred alternative to killing the cats.
- When feral cats are TNR'd, their health improves because they no longer have kittens and fight over mates, and nuisance behaviors are greatly reduced or eliminated. The colony's dedicated caretaker provides food, water and shelter, watches over the health of the cats and removes any newcomers for TNR (if feral) or adoption (if tame).
What should I do if I find a stray or feral cat?
- It is fairly easy to tell the difference between a stray cat (a lost pet) and a feral cat. If you do find a new cat use caution, as any cat may strike out if he feels threatened or cornered. Move slowly and talk to the cat first. Offer food. If you are unsure and do not feel comfortable handling the cat, please call a local no-kill rescue for assistance. You can check out our Cat Action Teams to find a rescue in your area or visit PetFinder.com.
- Next, try to find out if the stray cat has a home by asking neighbors. Hang “Found” signs in the local area with the cat’s picture, call local animal shelters to report you found a cat, and place notices in local newspapers.
- Keep her isolated in your house and make sure your other cats are up-to-date on their vaccines. Whether you are going to keep her or you are going to find him a home, please get her checked by a veterinarian. You want to make sure she is vaccinated, tested for diseases, and sterilized.
- If you cannot keep her, please try to find him a good home. Call friends, family, and colleagues and put up signs at your vet’s office. Find out if any local "No-Kill" shelter in your area could take him. But if you take her to your local county shelter, they may euthanize her. And do not run FREE TO GOOD HOME ADS; individuals who answer these ads can be dangerous, unscrupulous people.
What should I do if I can’t keep my cat?
If you cannot keep your cat due to behavioral reasons we recommend you first work with your cat to address the issue. If a cat starts exhibiting “problem” behaviors, they are usually trying to tell you something is wrong. The cat may be suffering from health issues or under stress. First get your cat checked out by your vet because there may be an under lying health issue. If health issues are ruled out, see our cat behavior solutions.
If the reason is not behavioral, reach out to local rescue groups through our Cat Action Teams for help finding a new forever home, or friends and family.
What should I do if I find an orphaned kitten?
First, leave the kittens alone for the first few hours. The mom may simply be transporting her kittens one by one to a new area. If you pick up the kittens you could be taking them away from their mom. Check on the kittens every hour. If the mom does not show up or the kittens look sick you can take them in yourself. Once you have the kittens, you should keep them warm. A very little kitten should be kept on a heating pad, even during the summer months. Wrap the heating pad in a towel or sheet, so that it does not burn the kitten. They cannot regulate their own body temperatures, and may not be able to move off the heating pad if it gets too hot. Ideally, they have their mother and siblings to keep warm.
Next, you should buy some special kitten milk from a pet store, grocery store or your veterinarian. This milk is specially formulated to feed kittens or pregnant or nursing mother cats. Do not give a kitten cows milk. A very young kitten needs to be fed a proper kitten formula, like Goat's Milk KMR or Breeder's Edge, around the clock. If necessary, you can feed kittens regular goat's milk for a short time until you can get a formula. The instructions are on the container. Feed first with a dropper. This is easier to use at the beginning than getting the kitten used to a bottle. Eventually, you can try a bottle. You must stimulate the kitten's tummy after each feeding to make his bodily functions work and have the kitten urinate. Warm cotton balls are perfect for this. Remember the mother cat usually does all of this for him. Just remember to dry the kitten after bowel movements and keep his body temperature warm. As kittens grow stronger and bigger, you can make a “soup” of canned kitten food mixed in with the formula milk.
What should I do if my indoor cat escaped the house? How do I find him?
First, do not panic! This can only make the situation worse. Usually when a cat escapes from a house, he is very frightened by his new surroundings and will find a place close by to hide. Visit your neighbors and ask if they can check these for you. Put food and water out in several places. Scatter his used cat litter around your yard; his familiar scent will help him locate his home. He may be hiding under a nearby bush in your yard or next door.
If you do see him, DO NOT rush at him because you could scare him; this may push him away even further. Take your time and try making friends with him with food (try some treats or catnip). He will be scared; sometimes, escapees act as though they have never seen their guardians before in their lives. If you cannot catch him by hand, it may be easier to use a humane trap to get him.
Keep checking with your local animal control agency and those in surrounding areas to report him missing. Put notices in local newspapers and hang signs with photos on telephone poles and at the vet’s office. In times like these, it is an excellent idea to make sure your cat (and all of your pets) is micro-chipped and the information is up-todate. If your cat is found and taken to a vet or animal shelter, the first thing they will do is scan him for a chip. This will provide them with your contact information and make finding re-uniting you and your pet much easier and more guaranteed. The best time to look for a lost cat is after midnight. It’s usually quieter in the neighborhood and that is the time they will search for food.