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Confessions of a Cat Lady
By Faxon Animal Rescue League
The Cat Continuum - from Lap Cat to Feral Cat and everything in between!
I once told a friend that a feral cat is one which has been lost or stray so long that it's now unfriendly or even mean; it's unapproachable because its focus is survival! It is a cat fighting for life, food and shelter with no more bowls of food waiting or warm beds to sneak onto. The cat has reverted back to being undomesticated; it's now wild, but it LOOKS pretty much like a house cat. However, after twenty-five years of animal welfare and rescue work, I know there is more to the story.
So how does a feral cat differ from a domestic cat? After all, both feral and domestic cats are the cute furry kitty cats we animal lovers know; they just have different lifestyles.
Many of us know what a tough looking stray cat looks like. We may not get to know that type of cat, but we see them stare and run with their dull fur and their wild eyes. And most of us know what a lap cat is.
The house cat or domestic cat is sometimes aloof and known for their independence. They would have a very tough time living without you - on their own in the cold or the heat of summer. They are your dependents.
A feral cat, on the other hand, may be 2 or 3 generations away from being that house cat. If it has survived, it has become wild and theoretically can live on the streets with most of the skills and cunning needed to find food and shelter. Notice I say most. Remember, they're still domestic animals and two or three generations away from a domestic cat is not that much. Unlike a raccoon or a fox, it has not had centuries or hundreds of generations to pick up these skills.
Based on the evaluation of the feral cat, a decision will have to be made to alter and release; to relocate; to tame and adopt out; or even to live or die. The best rule of thumb is to proceed with caution--even with a lap cat. Cats are independent and can be unpredictable. They have complex personalities no matter where they fall in the Lap Cat to Feral Cat Continuum.
Faxon Animal Rescue League
Visit the League and the Clinic at 474 Durfee Street, Fall River, MA 02720 or view our adoptable animals at www.faxonarl.org. For more information or directions call 508-676-1061. The shelter and the Sylvan Animal Clinic are open Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Thursday from 12:00pm - 7:00pm. Call 508-679-6122 to make an appointment or 508-676-1061 with questions about the shelter.
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