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Written by Anne Moss
For many people, feral cats are invisible, transparent as glass; going unnoticed in their daily struggle to survive, surrounded by folks who don't give them a second glance. Some cat lovers notice feral cats. They invest their time, money and energy into taking care of these cats, but for most people, if the cats are noticed at all, it's only to be tormented and treated as pests.
What a shame. Because feral cats are just that, they are cats. They are domestic cats gone feral, biologically identical to their pet brethren (those pampered felines that share our lives). Feral cats have the same emotional and mental capabilities and needs, even if they have grown away from human companionship. Feral cats are not wild animals.
What is a Feral Cat?
One definition would be: a cat which did not have proper socialization with humans during the critical stages of 2 to 12 weeks of age. At this stage of its life, a kitten develops a basic concept of the world around him. What the kitten is not introduced to early on, is likely to intimidate him later in life. So, not exposed to close human contact at a young age, the kitten will grow up apprehensive of most human beings.
That being said, inherent temperament also plays a large part in a cat's tendency to move away or be close to people. Some pet cats, born and raised with people, may still be timid and shy. On the other hand, some true feral cats can show distinct tendencies towards creating human contact with the people they trust.
In addition to the criteria of socialization with people, we need to consider the standards of the cat's current dwelling conditions. Feral cats do not have the advantage of being raised in a home; unless rescued, they remain homeless for the rest of their lives, living on the streets and in back allies, in every town and city world-wide. Therefore, when they are captured and placed in a home, the environment is so alien to them they do not know how to respond and will go into hiding and seclusion. This behavior tends to frustrate some pet owners, for they are expecting this feral cat to respond as a domestic cat would. It takes time, and patience, but eventually you can bond with a feral cat.
Not every cat that you see on the street is necessarily feral. Some of them may be strays. A stray is a pet cat that was either abandoned or got lost. They belonged in a home once and if they are not re-homed quickly, strays will often die on the streets for they lack the survival skills of the ferals.
All feral cats have pet cat roots. However, most of these traits are buried deep, taken over by the survival tendencies essential for their continued existence in harsh conditions. They are all offspring of stray cats that survived long enough on the streets to produce kittens. And there is the crux of the problem: Pet owners not being responsible enough to spay and neuter.
The Problem of Feral Cat Overpopulation
It is estimated that there are over 60 million feral cats in the United States. While more people are becoming involved in taking care of feral cats, most ferals still lack access to proper feeding, veterinary care and shelter from the elements.
Cats are extremely fertile. Given a way to secure water, and food and placed in the right climate, they can produce two to three litters of kittens each year. On the streets, as conditions are far from ideal, most of the kittens die. However, some make it to adulthood bringing another generation of feral cats into the world.
Over the past century, people moving into urban areas have inadvertently created ecological niches for feral cats. By providing open garbage cans, sources of water such as air conditioning systems, and buildings to provide shelter, mankind has allowed the feral cat population different ways to continue growing. Cat lovers taking pity on feral cats may throw them leftovers. While done with the best of intentions, this only serves to attract more cats, until the person feeding the cats realizes (sometimes too late) that she can no longer support them all.
When overcrowded and not taken care of, feral cats tend to make people angry. Even cat owners sometimes detest them, joining a communal effort "to do something" about this problem. Unmanaged feral cats can cause problems. They get into the garbage; they fight at night (especially during mating season). Whole males are territorial, chasing pet cats as well as spraying urine around. In unmanaged colonies the sight of starving, sick and injured cats and kittens is sadly, a common occurrence.
Feral Cats - The Invisible Felines 2
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