A question..

Since it's winter I've been seeing alot of new faces at my feeding station. How do you know which cats are true ferals....and not just scared strays? I've seen local ads for missing cats, and that gets me wondering if any of the cats are lost pets? Since Puff, who after getting over his initial fear is a people kitten, raised  with people with no fear of anything. And my other stray Patch was also fearful, he ran but stopped when I crouched down and reached out my hand.Then he sniffed and I pet him and the rest is history.

As I see it, the real problem is not who are stray and who semiferal, but who is astray and who is dumped.

Becuause, if astray, you will find the owner if you seek seek intensively enough. 

- If dumped, you will not find.

Here, as you do see ads "missed", look them through every time (spare the ads) and compare with the newbees at your food station.

You can also ad yourself these new unknown as found.  If you dont afford to ad in the newspaper, ad where ads are free.

Dont write exactly where they are, and use a  yahoo mail or a anonymous, prepaid cell phone card.

Dont describe too exactly, Let the owner himself describe the cat.

If you take a photo, try to let some detail not be too visible.

In unsafe cases, ask the "owner" to pay a sum, say 25 dollars, to some charity, in the cats name.

"As thank to God he got the cat back".

Othewise -  yes, it matters who are strays/dumped and who semiferales. 

Semiferales will probably manage even without your help - stray prob need help - especielly if just freshly strays/dumped....  Fresh astrays/dumped MUST be helped if you can and want help. The death ratio is very highest in the beginning, slowes downs later.

Next question is of course as you hint: strays/dumped are much easier to foster and resocialize.

But not so few semiferales are too quite easy to foster, so the difference is often more theoretical than practical.   If you do find some you think is fosterable, just do it, dont think too much which origins.

That is why I do write as I do.  

Good luck!