In Cincinnati, hundreds of feral colonies exist as well as thousands of strays. There is a distinct difference between the two, and in trying to fight both issues of cat overpopulation in this city, it’s important to be educated on the subject. So how can you tell a stray from a feral cat?
By definition a feral cat is one that was born in the “wild” and has never been tamed. When we think of wild, we think woods or a jungle. But the wild can also mean streets, alleys of cities or even rural places like farms. A feral cat has not been socialized with humans, and will more than likely run if encountered by a human.
A stray cat is different in nature than a feral cat. A stray cat is a cat that has been socialized by humans, but has been abandoned or has gotten lost. If the cat allows a human to pet her and seems tame, the cat is most likely a stray. Differentiating a long time stray from a feral can sometimes be difficult. If left without human contact and human support for a period of time tame cats will start to revert to their 'wild' ways to a certain degree as a matter of survival. These cats may at first appear feral, but will most often return to a domestic state after regaining their trust in humans.
The stray cats in the neighborhood may seem happy and fine on their own, but what you don't see is all the hazards facing them daily. The life span of an outdoor cat is significantly shorter than one kept indoors. Disease, injuries from fights, parasites, plus all of the man made hazards. A stray cat should be picked up and placed in a carrier (or trapped if necessary) and taken immediately to your vet for a health check up, vaccinations, and if necessary spay or neuter. Consider making the cat part of your household or work to find an adoptive family who will give it a loving home. Many rescue groups will assist you in finding a new home for the cat or with integrating it into your family.
Feral cats in the neighborhood present a very different challenge. These are not cats you can just pick up and place in a carrier. Neither can you consider taking them into your home as a normal pet. None the less, they still deserve to have as happy and as healthy a life as possible. The humane and proven method for dealing with feral cats is known as Trap Neuter Return, or TNR. Feral cats are trapped, taken to a vet or clinic, given a health analysis, vaccinated and neutered or spayed. They are then released back to the location where they were trapped. Many local organizations and individuals regularly perform TNR as volunteers. Classes are available to teach the methods of TNR and traps are available for loan from many sources. Online resources for TNR information can be found from the ASPCA and the Humane Society at the following links or you can contact local organizations such as Cincinnati Cats Inc, SCOOP or Ohio Alleycat Resource. Please consider looking after the stray and feral cats in your area, it will help your neighborhood and enrich your life.
http://www.aspca.org/adoption/feral-cats-faq.html
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/feral_cats/tips/what_you_can_do_for_ferals.html
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