Things You'll Need
- Cat food
- Water
- Bowls
Instructions
How to Determine if a Cat Is Feral
Observe behavior. According to the Humane Society of the United States, feral cats are unaccustomed to human contact and are therefore too fearful to be handled. If you feed a cat for several days and it still won't allow you to approach or touch it, it is probably feral. Feral cats are not used to receiving food or affection from humans, whereas lost or stray cats typically are.
Observe companions. Feral cats tend to live together in groups called colonies. A lost or abandoned cat is likely to be alone and unlikely to be part of a colony.
Note how frequently the cat is seen. The fact that feral cats don't trust humans means that even a colony may rarely be seen. A pet cat that is lost or abandoned is likely to be more visible because it is used to relying on humans for food and shelter.