Most stray cats were someone’s pet at one point in their life.
Many mistake stray felines for feral cats because they’re not familiar with the differences between stray and feral cats. However, they’re not the same animals.
Stray felines have been socialized with people. On the other hand, feral cats have never been around people because they’re born outdoors and live in feral cat colonies.
Knowing if a cat’s stray or feral can help you decide what to do with the animal. You can tell if a cat’s stray or feral by observing the feline’s behavior, body language, condition of the coat, etc.
Below, I will point out more signs you should look for when determining if a cat’s stray or feral and share ways you can help both types have a better life.
I will also teach the differences between strays and ferals, so let’s dive right in.
Stray Cat Vs Outdoor Cat
Home and stray cats have many similarities because most street kitties were previously house pets abandoned by their owners.
Feral cats, on the other hand, aren’t as friendly toward humans as stray cats because of their upbringing–feral cats spend their whole lives on the streets without human contact.
They’re independent creatures with survival skills that stray cats lack.
Moreover, they socialize with their feline family members but don’t have the same bond with humans.
Stray Cats vs Feral Cats
Let’s compare the traits of stray and feral cats so that you can have a better understanding of both types of animals.
Common Traits of Stray Cats
Stray cats once lived indoors with people, so they were socialized with people at some point in their life. However, they have either left, lost their home, or were abandoned by their owners.
The longer stray felines live outdoors, the higher the chance of these homeless cats becoming feral because of their lack of contact with humans.
Moreover, stray cats usually let people cuddle or touch them, but they will become less socialized if they spend long periods without positive interaction with people.
The good news? With the proper treatment and under the right conditions, stray kittens can become pets once again. There are many ways to attract stray cats.
These cats will need time to readjust to indoor living, but it’s possible to turn stray cats into house pets. They’ve likely experienced some trauma outdoors and have forgotten basic indoor etiquette, so they need time to remember their previous lifestyle.
If you have a stray cat in your neighborhood and you’re considering adopting the kitten, remember that stray cats can be scared of people after spending a long time outside.
In a nutshell, stray cats aren’t the same as feral cats because they’re previous pets who have escaped their house, gotten lost, or their irresponsible owners abandoned them.
However, stray cats can become feral if they spend too much time alone on the streets. Luckily, there’s hope for stray cats, as they have the social skills that wild cats lack.
You can easily transform a stray kitty into a home pet if you’re patient and earn the cat’s trust by providing food, water, and shelter near your property.
See more: Where do stray cats hide during the day
Common Traits of Feral Cats
Feral cats aren’t socialized outdoor cats. On the contrary, they’re wild animals who have never interacted with people or haven’t had a positive encounter with humans for long.
Most feral cats don’t enjoy the company of people because they’re scared of us, so you can’t turn a wild cat into a house pet. Additionally, most feral cats like living outdoors, as they already have their own family and good survival skills.
However, you can turn a young feral cat into a lap cat if you adopt the kitty at a younger age. Most feral kittens can become house pets if they’re younger than four months.
Experts don’t recommend transforming a feral kitty over four months into a home pet, as the process takes a lot of time, especially for older feral cats.
The worst part? The process might fail for a variety of reasons.
A recent study about the secret lives of wild cats revealed that they enjoy their freedom. These cats have expansive home ranges (up to two square miles), including farmlands, forests, prairies, and grasslands. (*)
In winter, wild cats prefer more sheltered areas, such as urban areas and forests.
That’s why feral cats have difficulty adjusting to living indoors. You can’t just take a kitty living in the wild for their life and expect them to love your home.
Instead, try to socialize a feral cat younger than four months old. You have a better shot at domesticating a young wild kitten than one free for years.
As for kittens between 4 and 8 months, you might have difficulties domesticating a kitten older than four months because that’s when cats develop their personalities.
Why Knowing the Difference Matters?
Knowing the difference between feral and stray cats can help you determine the proper ways to help the animal and provide protection (I will share care tips, so stick to the very end).
Overall, strays make great candidates for adoption into homes if you have the time, money, and patience to foster and adopt animals.
In contrast, for many reasons, feral cats aren’t good candidates for adoption into homes. For starters, they love their freedom. Second, they fear people because they have never had a close-up interaction with humans.
The bad news? Feral kitties have a higher chance of getting killed by animal control, so it’s in their best interest to live outdoors for the remainder of their lives.
Although you can’t adopt feral cats, you can still make their lives easier by contacting a local animal shelter and asking about TNR (trap-neuter-return) programs.
These programs benefit community cats, whether they’re stray or feral.
Felines participating in these programs get vaccinated, spayed or neutered, scanned for microchips, microchipped and ear-tipped, and returned outdoors.
So, inform yourself about these programs and help your neighborhood cats.
15 Ways You Can Determine if a Cat is a Stray
You can’t tell if a cat’s stray or feral by glancing over the free-roaming animal.
You should look closely for common signs of strays, such as body language, poorly-maintained fur, specific vocalizations, missing ear tips, etc.
If the feline you’re observing isn’t friendly and easily approachable, they’re likely feral or became feral because of the outdoor lifestyle and lack of human interaction.
Furthermore, strays also explore neighborhoods alone, while ferals travel in groups and have better hunting skills.
Let’s review these and other signs that tell if you have a stray or feral cat on your hands.
1. Most Stray Cats Approach People
How a feline behaves in the presence of humans can tell you whether they’re a stray. If the cat approaches you, they’re probably a stray because most strays aren’t scared of people.
They were once pets, so they’re familiar with humans and have social skills.
So, sit or stand near the outdoor kitty and see if they approach you on their terms. If the cat gets close to you, they’re either a lost stray, escaped their home, or were abandoned by their owners.
I suggest crunching down to the cat’s level to look less intimidating when establishing a connection.
Lastly, observe the cat for a while and see if they approach cars or houses. Most strays exhibit this behavior because they’re not scared of these things.
2. You Can Easily Approach Stray Cats
If the outdoor cat doesn’t approach you, they’re probably scared. Maybe the cat’s been a pet before but has had a bad experience with other people on the streets.
If the cat’s socialized but scared of your presence, you can make the first step.
Approach the cat slowly while talking to the scared animal in a calming and reassuring voice. If the poor feline allows you to get close, you have a stray on your hands.
3. Stray Cats Explore Their Surroundings Alone
As I already explained, feral cats move around in groups while strays travel and explore their surroundings alone.
So, if you always see the particular cat alone, they’re probably a stray.
4. Observe the Cat’s Body Language
A feline’s body language can help determine if the animal’s a stray.
A stray cat will display similar body language as a domesticated house cat, so watch the cat’s way of walking. Most strays walk with their tails in the air, as they’re friendly.
On the other hand, feral cats often crawl or walk close to the ground while keeping their tail low as a type of protection.
Additionally, strays make eye contact with people, while feral cats don’t look humans in the eye. Therefore, if the cat’s making eye contact, they’re likely a stray.
5. Most Stray Cats Meow and Purr Near People
You can tell if a cat’s stray or feral by their vocalizations.
For instance, if you greet a stray feline, they will probably meow as a response, as stray cats communicate with each other and with people through meowing and hissing.
Some stray kitties can even purr in your presence, depending on how long they’ve been living outdoors. On the other hand, feral cats don’t make these sounds.
6. Check the Cat for a Collar
House cats usually have a collar. Most cat owners place a collar on their feline with their name and a phone number you can call if you find the cat roaming the streets.
Therefore, if you suspect a cat’s a house pet, check for a collar.
If you don’t see one, don’t immediately assume it’s a stray because the kitty may have lost their collar or never had one in the first place.
7. Does the Cat Seem Healthy?
A cat’s general health can help reveal if they’re stray or feral.
Typically, stray cats don’t have the necessary survival skills that feral cats have, so they look skinny, malnourished, and anxious.
Moreover, strays fight with other outdoor cats because they explore many territories, looking for food and shelter. And sometimes, they run into other stray kitties and fight for resources.
Analyzing these factors isn’t easy, but give your best.
It’s also possible that the cat looks well-nourished but appears very hungry. In this case, the cat’s possibly a lost pet without hunting skills.
In contrast, feral cats look skinny but don’t act as hungry as stray kitties because they’re equipped with hunting skills.
Simply put, ferals don’t appear hungry because they know they can find food, but they don’t look well-nourished as pet cats either.
8. What’s the Condition of the Cat’s Fur?
Most stray cats look distressed, dirty, and anxious, as they were house kittens regularly groomed by their owners.
House cats don’t have to worry about their looks because their favorite humans care for their cleanliness. That’s why previous pet cats become dirty when left outdoors.
Also, keeping up their appearance isn’t their priority. Stray felines typically sharpen their hunting skills instead of grooming themselves.
On the other hand, feral cats look better because they already know how to get food, so they have free time for self-grooming.
9. Does the Cat Have a Missing Ear Tip?
When vets spay or neuter cats, they sometimes surgically cut off the tip of one ear as a sign that this surgery already took place.
Vets surgically remove the tip of the cats’ ears so that they don’t experience the trauma of another surgery in the future. Therefore, if the kitty you observe misses the tip of one ear, they’re likely someone’s beloved pet.
10. Maybe the Cat Belongs to Your Neighbors
You can quickly determine if a cat’s stray or feral by finding the outdoor animal’s owner. The stray cat hanging around your neighborhood perhaps belongs to your neighbors, so ask your neighbors if they’ve lost a pat or know someone who has.
You can also snap a picture of the feline and post it on social media.
Sharing a photo of the feline online can reach more people than going door-to-door and asking people for information. You can also share the kitten’s location so the owner can come and take their pet home.
Additionally, you can craft a “found” poster with the animal’s photo and contact number.
11. Check the Feline for a Microchip
Take the animal to the nearest vet clinic if they’re easily approachable and allow you to put them in a carrier. The vet will scan the feline for a microchip.
If the stray kitten has a microchip, you can quickly find the owner of the lost pet because microchips contain contact information.
12. Attach a Paper Collar, if Possible
Sometimes, cat owners don’t know their pets have been wandering. If you suspect your local stray cat has a home, you can attach a paper collar to the animal.
The paper collar should contain a message like: “This kitty has been hanging around my home for a while. If you know someone who’s lost a cat or you’re the owner, please get in touch with me.”
Write down your phone number or email address on the paper collar, so the person who knows the feline’s owner can reach you.
If the kitty wanders during the day but returns home at night, the paper collar will inform the owner of what’s going on with their pet when they’re at work, etc.
Extra tip: Remove the paper collar after some time because most cats don’t like having things around their neck. The paper collar can irritate the cat, so if no one has contacted you for days or weeks, remove it and proceed with the following step.
13. Call Local Animal Shelters
Contact the animal shelters in your area to learn if anyone has reported a missing feline recently. If someone has lost their cat, the animal shelter will probably give you a phone number you can call and reunite the kitty and the owner.
You should tell the animal shelters how the feline looks, where and when you found the cat, and your contact details, so they can reach you if someone calls looking for a kitten that matches your description.
14. Post the Cat Photo Online
You can publish the cat online and see what happens. Consider online resources, such as PetsLocated.com.
This website helps owners find their pets through their lost” and “found” databases.
PetsLocated.com also cross-references the two databases to try and match up animals that have been reported lost and found.
Enter the details you have about the lost cat, and hopefully, you will find the cat’s owner and witness a heartwarming reunion.
15. Ask Your Local Vet for Help
Ask your local vet for advice if you can’t determine whether you have a stray or feral cat on your hands.
Vets can easily recognize the type of cat and share helpful tips.
If you can’t visit the vet for whatever reason, don’t worry. Here’s a list of valuable tips for helping stray and feral cats.
Final Tips
If you’re considering approaching the unknown cat you see outside your home, stay cautious. Cats bite and scratch people they don’t know and trust, so take things slowly.
Some stray felines approach strangers, while others don’t. If the kitty seems friendly but hesitant and scared, make the first step. Otherwise, let the cat come to you first.
If the cat’s feral, they won’t come near you because stray felines don’t approach people, even those who provide food and shelter. If the cat’s a stray, they will eventually let their guard down, relax, and enjoy your company.
Here’s how you can help stray and feral cats in your neighborhood.
Stray Cats
If you’re sure the cat isn’t feral, you can help the homeless animal by providing cat food and water. Leave the cat food and water in the same place daily, so the feline knows they can find resources at your property.
These steps will help you gain the cat’s trust. Over time, the homeless cat will see you as a friend and cuddle with you.
If you consider making this cat your pet cat, visit the local vet clinic for neutering or spaying, shots, and flea treatment, especially if you own other pets.
Whether or not you adopt the stray cat, you should visit the vet and check for a microchip.
Many lost cats and dogs end up in animal shelters while their owners look for them. So, call your local vets and animal shelters, ask if someone’s been looking for their lost cat, and scan the animal for a microchip.
You can also take a picture of the cat, craft a flyer, and post it in supermarkets, local vet offices, and public places.
Alternatively, ask around the neighborhood if someone’s lost a cat and post the feline’s photo online.
If you have a Facebook account, post the found kitty. Hopefully, someone will recognize the cat and send you a message.
Finally, if you have no luck finding the cat’s owner, you can call no-kill animal shelters and ask if they’re taking in homeless cats.
If they don’t accept strays right now, care for the cat if you have the means until you find a forever home for the poor soul.
Feral Cats
If you have a feral kitten on your hands, leave the animal alone, call local animal shelters or humane societies, and ask about TNR programs.
The trap-neuter-release programs can help you humanely trap the feline for neutering or spaying. The animal shelter or humane society you contact will provide instructions and help you complete this complicated process.
You should trap the cat the night before the surgery and remove their food.
Therefore, I suggest calling the vet clinic for a surgery appointment before trapping the cat because you can’t leave the animal in the humane trap longer than 12-18 hours.
After the surgical procedure, you can help the feral cat by providing cat food and shelter on your property. You can find tons of YouTube videos on building outdoor cat shelters.
Lastly, don’t try to domesticate the feral cat because these cats prefer living outdoors.
*image by elwynn/depositphotos