I have to ask

As I stated before, I know nothing about cats. I do know that people generally don't allow their dogs to wander around alone, off-leash. However, I know that some cat owners do let their cats outside. With that in mind, what is. Good way to tell whether a cat is a stray or just outside? There is one cat in particular that I see almost everyday. On a couple of occasions, I'd seen it coming from the same direction around the same time of day. Today I noticed it a little later, venturing off in a different direction and even entering a backyard, which may or may not have been it's own. I didn't see a collar but I don't always keep collar on my dog, so that's probably not going to help me solve the mystery. What are some clues to look for?

wannahelp said:

As I stated before, I know nothing about cats. I do know that people generally don't allow their dogs to wander around alone, off-leash. However, I know that some cat owners do let their cats outside. With that in mind, what is. Good way to tell whether a cat is a stray or just outside? There is one cat in particular that I see almost everyday. On a couple of occasions, I'd seen it coming from the same direction around the same time of day. Today I noticed it a little later, venturing off in a different direction and even entering a backyard, which may or may not have been it's own. I didn't see a collar but I don't always keep collar on my dog, so that's probably not going to help me solve the mystery. What are some clues to look for?

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If it is feral and sees you, it runs, might freeze before that though, but usually those don't wander much at daylight and usually one don't see them as they hear and see before and know to stay hidden.

Strays might come during daytime and be comfortable with human on sight, or at least be curious about human activity enough to remain relatively hidden and spying, they might be very shy, but also might become quite close if not disturbed. Some can be quite ok at same open area as human is.

Lost pets are then something that might even come near and be very friendly, even may allow petting.

Feral if enough hungry can come to sight if food is placed so that cat sees it and preferrably smells it, but feral will not come when humans are at same space, it takes 15-20minutes of no disturbance for feral to consider area safe to venture into, but if feral is not hungry that is not going to work during daytime.

My Mauku was feral one day 100ft away she could spot me and run away, she had to seek food during days too as she had kittens to feed, mostly it was 1-3am that she came to eat, sunrise and sunset also, but daytime very rare to see her. She is now sleeping bit further than arm length of me, still fear touching a lot, but loves to play with string and straw, fully indoor cat, has taken few years to get this stage.

In my country it is illegal to keep cat running free at city area, also there are places cats are not allowed to go so it is quite impossible to make cat to realize not to go sandbox of children for example, so that makes free running cats pretty much illegal everywhere in this country. Many take kitten at spring/early summer and dump it at autumn then.
You can tell these from ferals that they are totally lost about their wondering around, stand at open, may even come near to beg food, feral does not come to beg food, they don't stand at open, they use natural cover so one really can't spot them without knowing where cat is. Of course nothing is absolute in nature, there are variations and there are certainly different levels of ferals and strays, but perhaps gives some ideas about what to look. Of course just my point of view from my limited experiences.

I'd say you are looking at a stray or an outside kitty. Ferals would rarely be seen during the day or approaching places where there would be people. Does it walk with it's tail up? Ferals would be more in a crouch or low to ground, hiding in bushes ect. If you try and get it's attention, a feral would not look at you and just run, a stray may run too, but would probably check you out first and perhaps meow, a feral would not meow.  These are just some of the signs I recently learned myself. Others here with much more experience then I may have more input.

It can be very difficult to determine if a cat wondering the neighborhood is a stray or just someones outdoor kitty. I say just keep an eye on it, if it appears healthy, walks with it's tail up, it's probably someones kitty.

Wish people would learn to keep some sort of collar on their kitties who go out.
 

Nex time you see the cat, try approaching it slowly.  If it runs, feral; if it kind of stays around, stray or someone's pet.

Another clue can be if the cat looks skinny or the weight is okay.  Ferals who live long enough learn where the food source is (dumpsters or prey); newly abandoned cats may look unkept and skinny, and hunger will win out over fear.

I agree with Katluver:  likely a stray or someone's pet.

This can be a tough one because a "stray" skittish cat can appear to be feral when in all reality, it is not. It is just frightened. I know if one of my cats, Perkins in particular, ever got lost outside, he would never approach a human unless he learned to trust them. All cats, feral or not, have very differing temperament and personalities. This is where you have to make the commitment to try to befriend this cat. Offering food the exact same time each and every day. If after a couple of days the cat becomes closer to you, meows at you and starts trusting you slowly then you will know that this cat is a lost stray trying to figure out if you are safe. A feral cat will not approach you under any circumstances, even for food. They will wait at a safe distance for the food then come to eat only after you have long gone. Good luck with this kitty and thanks for even caring.

I read in a cat book - do not ever put a colar on a cat , they can get hung up on a tree branch or fence and choke to death , they are not dogs !!

Anyone working in an animal shelter will tell you: It is far more likely that your cat will be lost and never returned home (if not collared), than it is that he will be harmed by his collar. Most all cat collars today are made to give way under pressure when caught by being either made of a stretchy material or having a breakaway clasp. Microchipping also helps, but it needs to be scanned and can't be seen. I do know collaring doesn't always work, as cats can lose them.
 

rocketbob said:

I read in a cat book - do not ever put a colar on a cat , they can get hung up on a tree branch or fence and choke to death , they are not dogs !!

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Very true, the danger is real.  You can lessen the danger very much with the so called break-able collar.

But no common-collars no. Dangerous for both children and cats.

About TS question.  Quite a lot outgoing home cats are more or less shy. Not so shay as a ferale, nor even a shy semiferale, but they usually dont come near you even if you talk friendly to them.  While other do come forward, themselves or when you talks sweet to them.

I mean, it is often not easy to see...

If the cat is in bad shape, you KNOW.  But many successful semiferales are in very good shape, almost fat. (of course, being in good shape helps them to be successful semiferales/ferales).

Last but not least.  If you think a cat is freshly astray / freshly dumped, and you can and want to help it, do it immediately. Take it in AND seek after the owner.  Dont just "hold your eyes open".

Why is so?  It is dangerous out there to be freshly astray / dumped. The death ratio from loose dogs, predating animals, evil people is highest the very first time.  Later on, if still alive and in OK shape, they do learn more and more, and have a better chance to continue, to live on... The death ration is slowing down.

Good luck!

Feralvr said:

This can be a tough one because a "stray" skittish cat can appear to be feral when in all reality, it is not. It is just frightened. I know if one of my cats, Perkins in particular, ever got lost outside, he would never approach a human unless he learned to trust them. All cats, feral or not, have very differing temperament and personalities. This is where you have to make the commitment to try to befriend this cat. Offering food the exact same time each and every day. If after a couple of days the cat becomes closer to you, meows at you and starts trusting you slowly then you will know that this cat is a lost stray trying to figure out if you are safe. A feral cat will not approach you under any circumstances, even for food. They will wait at a safe distance for the food then come to eat only after you have long gone. Good luck with this kitty and thanks for even caring.

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I would also start putting a little food out for it. If it is a stray, and starts allowing you close enough to it, maybe you could get a good picture of him/her to canvas your neighborhood and local vets to see if it may belong to someone. But, you have to be aware, once you start feeding it, feral, stray or someones kitty, you may be taking it on as now your responsibility. If you do this, we're here to help. Keep us posted.