Feral cats

What is a feral cat?

A feral cat is a cat who has been domesticated but not socialised to humans they are not cats that have once been in a human home. They have tended to themselves and have not been completely reliant on humans for food and shelter.

They tend to live in colonies and be in areas where there is easy access to food sources.

The size of a colony can vary from 10 to up to 50 cats.

While cats are solitary survivalists, feral cats live in groups because of the food sources. They also can take time to care for each others young including feeding and caring.

Allorubbing involves a cat rubbing against anothers head and neck. John Bradshaw and colleagues (2012) think that this may involve transferral of odour to maintain scent continuity in the colony.

As a feral cat hunts, using feeding devices such as puzzle feeders can help mimic this behaviour.

References:

Trudi Atkinson, Practical Feline Behaviour : Understanding Cat Behaviour and Improving Welfare. Oxfordshire, UK: CAB International, 2018

Bradshaw, J.W.S., Casey, R.A. and Brown, S.L. (2012) The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat, 2nd edn. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.