What is a Feral Cat?

The only difference between the friendly cat on your lap and the “feral” cat outside is socialization. A feral cat is a cat that has reverted in some degree to a wild state. They might have been domestic cats that were lost or abandoned and then learned to live in environments with little human contact, such as in barns or abandoned buildings. Or, they could be the litters of these cats. In most cases, feral cats are not completely wild because they still depend on people. It could be a farm family or a caretaker who provides daily food. Or it could be a dumpster outside a restaurant or a garbage can outside a home where they can forage. Relatively few feral cats subsist only by hunting.