What are the Differences between a Feral and Stray Cat?
Feral cats are born wild. They are the tough cats – lean, mean and fierce. They are extremely aloof and view humans with great suspicion. You will rarely get to meet a feral cat unless it is injured, sick or in need of some food. By nature although cats are solitary hunters they live in colonies. Much like big cats, female feral cats go out to hunt and raise their young whereas the males mark the territory and guard the colony. When tamed they can still make great pets however it takes time and they may still remain frightened of people they are not familiar with.
Stray cats are cats that had a home and are now looking for another. They need and crave human interaction. They often look bedraggled and malnourished as they are used to be cared for by a human owner. They have simply never learnt to live on their own and need human care and protection.
People who turn out a cat that has grown up in a home environment are being extremely cruel. They have been cared for, pampered and protected all their lives. They have not developed the hunting skills required to feed and protect themselves.
Some things I've noticed