What is the Difference Between Feral and Stray Cats?

Understanding the differences between these outdoor cats is important to determining the best way to approach and care for them.
 
What is a stray cat?

• A stray cat has been socialized with humans at some point in their life. In other words, the cat has experienced human companionship.
• Stray cats are usually lost or abandoned pets.
• Stray cats can be fearful or approachable depending on their personality.
• Many stray cats live alone. They may try and join a colony of feral cats and get rejected. On the other hand, some stray cats will be able to integrate into a colony.
• Usually a stray cat can be reintroduced to a home after living outdoors. This may require some patience while the cat re-adjusts to life indoors but the cat should be able to live happily inside again.
• Body language includes walking like a house cat, walking with their tail up (a sign of friendliness) and making eye contact.
• Stray cats can look lean and disheveled because they may not know how to find food and care for themselves outside.

 
What to do when you find a stray cat:

• Check missing pet ads! This cat might belong to a loving and concerned pet guardian.
• Contact local rescue groups to have the cat entered into an adoption program. Tell them you found the cat outside so then can scan the cat for a microchip. The microchip information may be able to reunited a lost cat with their guardian.

 
What is a feral cat?

• A feral cat is an unsocialized, domestic cat. Most are fearful and wary towards humans and survive on their own outdoors.
• Feral cats have never experienced contact with humans or their contact and trust has diminished. Stray cats can become feral over time.
• Feral cats may belong to a colony.
• Though feral cats are likely never to become pets, some kittens born to feral cats can be socialized at an early age and adopted into homes.
• Body language includes crawling, crouching, staying low to the ground, protecting their bodies with their tails and not making eye contact.
• Feral cats tend to look cleaner and well-kept because they can adequately care for themselves outside.

 
What to do when you find a feral cat:
Trap-neuter-return (TNR). This is a humane, effective program for managing feral cats populations

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