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Questions tagged [feral]

Feral animals are species that are typically considered to be domesticated, but the individuals have been raised in the wild without significant human interaction and generally tend to fear humans. Please include relevant species tag, such as "cats".

Feral animals can sometimes be treated as pets, and various levels of re-domestication may be achieved. However, these animals frequently bring unique challenges to the table, and there may be special considerations in any attempt to integrate them into the role of pet. Feral animals shall not be confused with stray ones - the difference is, stray animals are socialized to humans, as they once used to be pets but at some moment they got lost or abandoned.

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What is this street cat asking for, with continuous meowing?

There's this cat in the neighborhood which doesn't have an owner, and I suspect she has never had one since she's very cautious and doesn't get very close. I left her food sometimes: lately for about a week, she is coming around meowing…
azerafati
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Why are cats released as part of "spay and release" programs?

There is a feral cat in my neighborhood, It will not come near anyone, but will eat food if placed out for it. Someone mentioned a program called "Spay and Release". It seems like the idea is to capture the cat and have it neutered or spayed and…
James Jenkins
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How do I convince my dog that a collar or harness is not the end of the world?

We have a very sweet 6 month old shepherd rescue. He was part of an urban feral pack until he was captured, and he spent ~2 mos in the shelter office, getting adjusted to people before we got him one month ago. He's come a long, long way in the…
Amanda
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Can an adult feral cat be socialized/domesticated?

My mother was active at spay and release (trapping feral cats, spaying or neutering them, and then releasing them back into the neighborhoods they lived in) at her old house. By the time she left, there was only one feral cat in the neighborhood…
Beofett
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Will kittens of a feral mom "suddenly become feral" if they are allowed outside?

Right now my neighbor has a feral cat and her litter of kittens. They are around 7-8 weeks old and she is planning to give them away. However she insists on keeping them locked in her garage of late because kittens can "suddenly become feral" if…
WRiker
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How can I move houses with a friendly feral cat I care for?

I have been feeding a friendly feral cat for the last 10 months. He began visiting us when he was well into his feline teens, so to speak (so he can forage food for himself). He is not exactly a lap kitty, but loves being stroked and can be lifted…
Alpha Proxima
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Any tips for how to coax and teach a shy feral cat to trust?

My partner and I took a previously feral cat into our home a week and a half ago. She was born outdoors and was found in a cardboard box on a landfill near the city we live along with her four kittens. She stayed at another woman's house for four…
Helene Konstantine Dunlop
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What should you do with kittens when the mother runs away from you?

I have recently bought a farm, and with it comes seven (yes, seven) cats that are already living on the farm. The original owner had been feeding them all, but never bothered to play or interact with them (ever since they were born, I presume), so…
dvx2718
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What is the best way to manage a half-wild cat as a pet?

We have two spayed cats, Alice and Kesha. We took Alice in as a kitten born from a wild cat in a private house backyard. We received Kesha from her previous owners, who discovered they were allergic to cats. Both cats have completely different…
j-unior
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How can I combat food anxiety in an ex-stray cat?

I have three adult cats, all found as strays. The first two I found as kittens so they now behave just like regular domestic cats. The third one I found a year later as an adult. I have integrated her with the other two and there are almost no…
CJ Dennis
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Semi-feral cat broke a tooth. Should I give her aspirin?

There is a semi-feral cat that lives, by all indications happily, in my yard. I feed her mainly dry food and sometimes treats. Today I went to get the food bowl and there was blood on the rim and then when I gave her a few treats she likes (crunchy)…
AskingForASemiFeralFriend
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Is there a way to safely tranquilize my cat, so he does not remember a vet visit?

Are there different safe forms of cat sedation for vet exam/visit and travel? My cat is 13 and has not been to a vet or held by any human in 11 years. We found him (just a baby) crying in a bush, took him right to a vet. When we tried to feed it…
FloJo
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Can/Should I take a feral/stray cat with me to a new house?

2 years ago a nursing Mama cat appeared on my porch digging through garbage for a meal. I tried to pet her, but she ran away immediately and I did not see her for several days. Gradually she started coming back once I set food out. She comes when we…
Ashley
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Strategy for taking in two very young, non-socialized stray cats

Two very young cats (siblings) moved into my yard and the surrounding properties. They first appeared when they were about 3-4 months old(?) and they're probably 5-6 months old now. I would like to take them in. They appear healthy and active;…
Robert Cartaino
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Feral cat keeps attacking my dog in our backyard, what should I do?

There is a small feral cat that keeps coming into my backyard and attacking my 65lb dog. Our yard is fully fenced and we have a dog door, so our dog goes in and out as he pleases. I usually don't see the attack, but hear it (horrific yowling and…
Gen
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