Feral cats do not meow, domesticated cats reserve meowing for interacting with humans, because they have learned humans respond to vocal cues. If a cat meows at you and approaches, it is definitely not a feral cat. How to tell if a cat is feral – 6 things to look for 1. They are one of the factors in the declining number of songbirds and are believed to be responsible for the extinction of at least 63 species of birds mammals and reptiles. They will often hunt for fun, and abandon their kills. Cats are efficient hunters, and a large group of cats can devastate the small animal population. image: Ī large population of feral cats can also prove detrimental to the local ecology. These parasites get into the soil, and can then spread through accidental ingestion. They also have the potential to spread parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, in their feces. Unfortunately, since it is difficult to impossible to vaccinate feral cats on the proper schedule, the fact remains that they are at risk for contracting rabies and passing it to other animals. Advocates for feral, or “community cats” assert that feral cats are not a rabies risk and that they do not spread disease. So are feral cats a danger? You will find people on both sides of the argument, with some claiming that feral cats do not pose a threat to humans due to their avoidant behavior. Feral cats frequently live in large groups and socialize with each other. Feral cats are fearful of people and respond more like a wild animal than a domesticated one to human advances. Stray cats are cats that have either been house pets at some point in time, and abandoned or lost, or have had enough interaction with people to be properly socialized and accustomed to humans.įeral cats have either been separated from humans for so long that they have lost their ability to socialize with people, or they have never been exposed to humans. Despite this, there are major distinctions and stray cats and feral cats vary greatly in their behavior and the way they approach humans. You may have heard the terms “feral” and “stray” used interchangeably. If you are unsure how to tell if a cat is feral, keep reading to find out how to differentiate between feral and stray cats, and find out things you can do to help the feral cats in your area, while also preventing the population from growing. Before you approach these cats you need to determine if these cats are feral, or just lonely strays. Or maybe, there’s a strange cat who has decided that your porch makes a perfect napping spot. You may have seen a group of cats hanging around a dumpster.
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