What is a Feral Cat?

A feral cat colony is a group of free-roaming cats living in a specific geographic area. Colonies can consist of both stray (tame) and feral (wild) cats of all ages, from kittens through adults.

A stray cat is a domestic cat that strayed from home and became lost or was abandoned. Because a stray cat was once a companion animal, he or she can usually be re-socialized and placed into an adoptive home. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a non-lethal sterilization method to reduce the number of feral cats. TNR is a comprehensive, ongoing program in which stray and feral cats already living outdoors are humanely trapped, evaluated, vaccinated, and sterilized by veterinarians. Kittens and tame stray cats are adopted into good homes. Healthy adult cats that are too wild to be adopted are returned to their habitat under the lifelong care of volunteers. TNR programs operate largely or entirely through the dedicated efforts of committed volunteers. TNR works because it breaks the cycle of reproduction. TNR advances the goal of reducing the number of feral cats in the environment.

Animal Rescue and Care Network, Inc. considers a feral cat a homeless, unloved, and uncared for cat that deserves the best chance for life. We equally love and care for feral cat colonies as if they were our own pets. It is no fault of their own these cats exist. We encourage pet owners to spay or neuter their pets to break this vicious cycle. ARCN provides long-term care and monitors adult feral cats that are returned. We are committed to them as they grow to encompass entire communities.

Feral cats are the offspring of outdoor cats, owned or abandoned. A feral cat literally has "gone wild." It can be a domesticated cat that was lost or abandoned and has reverted to a wild state, or a cat that was born outside to a stray or feral mother and had little or no human contact. Adult feral cats usually cannot be tamed and are not suited to living indoors with people. They live outside in family groups called colonies that form near a source of food and shelter. You can find them behind supermarkets, fast food restaurants, mobile home parks, apartment complexes, and barns. If you look closely you can find them on almost every city block. They number in the millions. Feral cats can survive anywhere and are found worldwide.