Cats are an incredibly diverse animal species. With more than 100 million domesticated cats and more than 30 million feral cats in the United States alone, it’s difficult to keep track of all the different types.
Domestic cats are popular house pets all over the world, but feral, or wild, cats are another animal altogether. As a general rule of thumb, domestic cats have been selectively bred to have social and affectionate personalities. A feral cat is a domestic cat that has either been born in the wild or has reverted to the wild after having been domesticated. Unlike dogs, feral cats cannot be ‘civilized’ back into domestic life.
How Can You Tell If a Cat Is Feral?
There are several distinguishing factors between a feral cat and a domestic cat, including appearance and behavior.
Appearance: Feral cats are almost always larger than domesticated cats. Their coloring is usually less distinct, and they tend to be thinner. Also, feral cats can have shorter tails than domesticated cats.
Behavior: Feral cats live solely in the wild. They are afraid of strangers and are extremely wary of people. Feral cats do not display affection to their owners, are often unsocialized, and do not make good pets. They can become tame over time, but they never truly accept humans as part of their group.
Domestic cats may be fearful of strangers, but will also bond with their owners and enjoy human contact. Domestic cats utilize the entire range of their ‘Cattie’ persona and have many options for mastering the art of socialization.
When Does a Cat Become Feral?
Feral cats are the result of domestication gone wrong. A feral cat is likely the result of a domestic cat gone wild. Because domestication and habitation both involve selective breeding, the distinction between feral and domestic cats can become blurred. Most experts agree that if a cat has not been exposed to humans since birth, it will remain feral.
Are Feral Cats Ever Friendly?
Feral cats are not easily tamed and rarely form bonds with humans. However, it’s not impossible. A feral cat can be domesticated, but it takes a lot of hard work and time to teach a feral cat how to behave around people.
What Are the Benefits of Taming a Feral Cat?
The benefits of taming a feral cat include having a loving companion and improving the cat’s quality of life. Taming a feral cat can be a rewarding experience for both you and the cat. It takes a lot of patience, but the satisfaction of seeing a cat come out from the wild into your home can make all the effort worth it.
Other benefits of taming a feral cat include:
- Being able to utilize your cat for hunting to keep an area clear of rodents.
- Helping your cat find a home and providing companionship for him or her.
- Having a friend to take with you when you go camping or hiking.
- Helping you understand your cat’s behavior and habits.
Can A Feral Cat Become a House Pet?
Some people believe that taming a feral cat is cruel and unnecessary. Taming a feral cat forces the animal to conform to the expectations of humans and limits its freedom. Others believe that taming a feral cat is a compassionate act. They argue that every living thing has a right to live, even if it can’t live with humans. Deciding whether or not to tame a feral cat is ultimately up to the person who owns the animal. Taming a feral cat can be done with love and patience.
What Happens after a Feral Cat Is Tamed?
Feral cats can become domesticated when they are raised with affection and provided with regular food and water. A feral cat can be taught to be friendly around humans, but it will never be a true domesticated companion. Taming a feral cat does not create a bond of friendship between the human and the animal, so both must move on with their lives at some point.
Be willing to walk away from your feral cat at any time if you feel that it is necessary. To tame a feral cat successfully, you must have realistic expectations. You can’t force wild instincts out of a cat. Being willing to take a feral cat back to the wild if it can’t become tame is the only way to ensure a successful experience for both you and the cat.
See Also: How Are Domestic Cats Different from Wildcats?
And: Which Cats Are the Best Hunters?
How Does One Acquire a Feral Cat?
There are many options for acquiring a feral cat, including pet shops, shelters, and animal control agencies. A feral cat may be easier to find in the summer when there are more kittens in the wild, or when an animal has been abandoned. Some people choose to catch a feral cat by baiting it with food. This method can be dangerous, and it may only work once.
A feral kitten may be easier to train than a regular adult feral cat, but you shouldn’t get your hopes up. Although some kittens will become domesticated, others will remain feral. Kittens may be easier to tame than adult feral cats because they haven’t been exposed to humans for as long and have not developed fear reflexes. However, it is still difficult to tame a feral kitten.
Are Feral Cats Healthy?
The issue of the health of feral cats remains controversial. Some experts believe that the health of feral cats is equivalent to that of domestic cats. Other experts believe that feral cats suffer from a higher rate of illness. Cats are known to carry toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by parasites that may affect humans. Feral cats are more likely to carry toxoplasmosis than domestic cats, but the likelihood of becoming infected is still low. Domestic cats are also more likely to be exposed to the feline leukemia virus, which is easily transmitted.
Conclusion
Feral cats are wild animals, not pets. Taming a feral cat is possible, but it cannot be done overnight. The process will take time and patience, but it will also be rewarding. Be willing to accept a feral cat on its terms. Although taking in a feral cat will make your life more interesting, it’s not for everyone. Be prepared to return the animal to its natural habitat when it is ready. If you want the companionship of a cat but do not care to tame a feral cat, consider adopting a friendly stray cat instead. A friendly stray will give you everything you want and more.
Featured image: A Feral Cat
