There is a lot of misinformation circulating on social media and messaging boards about feral cats and what to do if you come across them. Some people claim that feral cats are a different species from our domesticated cats and are dangerous, while others believe that they can be brought home and adopted.
In this article, we will debunk 9 common myths and misconceptions about feral cats.
Debunking 9 Feral Cat Myths & Misconceptions
1. âFeral cats are a unique species to domesticated catsâ
Feral cats, strays, and domesticated cats are all the same species.1 The only difference between them is that feral cats are born and raised outside of a home, so they lack the level of socialization needed to tolerate and live happily with humans. Kittens must be held and played with by loving humans from an early age in order to socialize properly. Unfortunately, feral kittens never have this opportunity, but that does not make them a different species!
2. âFeral cats may be adopted and given a homeâ
If a kitten is not socialized from a young age, it will grow up to become a feral adult cat. Feral cats can never get used to, or be happy, living inside a home with humans. As a result, if these animals are picked up by animal control or taken to a shelter, they will not be put up for adoption or given a homeâinstead, most will end up euthanized. TNR (trap, neuter, and return) programs run by some organizations will instead neuter feral cats and then return them to their colony.
3. âFeral cats are straysâ
There is a significant difference between feral cats and strays. Strays are cats that once belonged to a home but have either gotten lost or abandoned. These cats are used to living and interacting with humans and have been socialized from a young age. If a stray cat finds its way to a shelter, it can be adopted and given a new home.
If a stray cat stays out in the neighborhood and gives birth to a litter, the kittens will grow up to be feralâunless they are found and socialized at a young age. Feral cats have never had the opportunity to be properly socialized.
4. âExterminating feral cats will solve a problemâ
Exterminating feral cats is neither a humane nor an effective solution to controlling the feral cat population. If all the feral cats from a neighborhood are taken away, it will create a vacuum in the ecosystem, which will quickly be filled with more feral cats moving in. Trap, neuter, and return programs instead focus on spaying and neutering these cats so the population does not grow. Additionally, it benefits feral cats by giving them a better quality of life.
5. âFeral cats can attack humansâ
It is highly unlikely that a feral cat would attack a human! Most of the time, these cats will run and hide if they see someone. In fact, feral cats tend to come out at night when there are fewer humans around.
Like any animal, if a feral cat feels threatened or cornered, it may defend itself. However, this is rare and can be avoided by giving feral cats their space and not trying to approach or handle them.