Welcome to PIF Tails Lost and Found SiteSimple guide to identifying a feral cat from a domestic stray cat, based on my own experiences and observations in trapping, fostering and owning cats and will not accurately apply to every cat found.
I frequently receive calls from people who request help with feral cats, after careful questioning a number of these 'feral' cats actually turned out to be domestic strays.
A true feral is a cat which has had no contact with humans it's entire life, feral kittens can be successfully tamed if trapped up to 12 weeks old.
A stray cat has had previous human contact and has either been abandoned by previous owners or is lost.
Please read the PIF Tails Found Cat article to try and reunite lost cats with their loving owners.
Feral Cat |
Stray Cat |
Silent except mating calls and hisses |
Meows |
Only seen at dawn and dusk to hunt |
Seen at all times of day and night |
Will eat food only after humans have retreated a distance |
Will eat food with humans standing within six foot |
Can never be touched or held |
May be touched, held or approached within limitations. |
If cornered will hiss, spit and fight hard |
If cornered will try to hide but fight if pushed |
Looks clean and healthy |
Looks dirty and unwell |
Entire or neutered and ear tipped as part of TNR |
Entire or Neutered |
No collar or microchip |
Might have collar and microchip |