Feralcats

Feral cats are the descendants of domestic cats that live outdoors with little or no daily human care or socialization. They typically avoid people and survive by hunting small prey, scavenging, and using abandoned food sources. Stray cats, in contrast, are domesticated animals that have become lost or abandoned but retain some tolerance for humans.

Feral populations occur worldwide, especially in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas where food, shelter, and shelter sites are available. They are usually solitary or form loose, unstable colonies around reliable food sources. Their behavior tends toward crepuscular or nocturnal activity, with hunting and territory marking shaping interactions with other cats and with wildlife.

Reproduction is rapid in favorable climates: female ferals can have multiple litters per year, with litters typically containing 2–6 kittens. Kittens begin to hunt at a few months old, and socialization is often limited, reducing the likelihood of adoption into regular human households.

Health and disease are ongoing concerns. Feral cats can carry parasites and diseases such as toxoplasmosis, feline leukemia, and feline immunodeficiency virus, and they may pose risks to human and animal health in some contexts. Rabies is a concern in some regions.

Management approaches vary and often focus on humane reduction of populations. Trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, vaccination, and sheltering of kittens or socialized cats are common elements. Some places implement feeding bans, regulations, or relocation, but effectiveness and ethics are debated. The ecological impact of feral cats includes predation on wildlife, which can affect local biodiversity, particularly for small mammals and ground-nesting birds.