Feral cats can have a range of devastating impacts on natural ecosystems. But what exactly constitutes as a feral cat and why should it matter?

Brooke Deak’s work on feral cats identifies some interesting questions, explained in her review in Animals, “The Significance of Social Perceptions in Implementing Successful Feral Cat Management Strategies: A Global Review.”

The review highlights the fact that feral cats pose a threat to many populations of small- to medium-sized animal species worldwide and explores the different management methods being used in various regions of the globe. In investigating these different management methods, it becomes apparent that not every country or region has the same approach to feral cat management. This is mainly because the definition of a “feral cat”, or of any other type of cat for that matter ( be it indoor domestic, outdoor domestic or stray), varies from region to region, which can pose a problem when attempting to adopt a management approach from one region to apply to another. Developing a clear and universal definition of what a feral cat is and how it can be managed is essential to progressing feral cat management processes in the future.

So why is the definition so flexible? Cats can vary between different categories throughout their lifespan. A kitten who is born from a female feral cat has the opportunity to be found, socialised and adopted out as a domestic pet. Alternatively, a domestic pet who has run away from home can either become a stray cat that stays near human habitation, or a feral cat that keeps away from humans and does not depend on them for food or shelter. The kittens of these cats who are not found and adopted often become either stray cats or feral cats themselves, depending on their association with humans as they age.

Another reason for the shift in definition is because in some parts of the world, “stray” and “feral” are used interchangeably. In the United States and parts of Europe, it is very popular in urban areas to have cat colonies that consist of what locals refer to as both stray cats and feral cats, with the only difference being whether the cats will approach humans or run away at the sight of them. In countries such as Australia, it is easier to define what a feral cat is, as these cats normally reside in the bush and are thought to have never been owned by humans.

As definitions shift by region, so do human perceptions of feral cats. These perceptions have a strong influence and impact on feral cat management in each region. The development of a universal definition of what a feral cat is, as opposed to a stray cat, will aid in giving the general public a better idea of what is being managed and why. This will allow for more effective and efficient management decisions around cat management in the future and help to reduce their impact on native species.

If you’d like to know more about this topic, check out Brooke’s paper at: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani9090617