2007-10-19 11:12:04 · 5 answers · asked by TX Mom 7 in Pets ➔ Cats
A true feral would be very similar to a wild animal--they were never handled by people and they view people as hostile all the time. Even making eye contact is enough to send a feral cat running out of the yard.
A stray was either owned prior to going native, or has been around people enough to sort of trust them. It may be a lost house cat. It may be a released pet tossed out by idiot owners. It may be one who wasn't fixed and who wandered out for felinelovemaking and never went back. But strays all have had enough human contact to be ok with keeping some sort of contact with people, or even turning back into a housecat.
2007-10-19 15:18:53 · answer #1 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you wouldn't have been able to touch it at all.. It would hiss constantly and once you set it free in your house you would never see it. Most cats that have been feral end up pretty scarred up. A truly feral cat really cannot be socialized once adult, but, they will eventually get used to your presence though they will still not let you touch them.
Most shelters won't adopt out feral cats.
Now, a shy cat might have been raised in a house it's whole life, just not be very well socialized. Some cats are just not very outgoing even if they are well-socialized. They all have different personalities..
2007-10-19 11:46:08 · answer #2 · answered by Unknown.... 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Feral cats will generally not allow humans to approach them or touch them. You rarely see them. They may accept food but only after you move a significant distance away. They usually do not meow at humans because they do not expect anything from them - they will only meow to other cats. When trapped or caged, they may often get extremely still or quiet after initial thrashing or fighting.
2007-10-19 11:20:58 · answer #3 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adopted from an animal shelter? Or one just off the street? Usually if they're from an animal shelter they have been fostered for a while to train the to accept human presence and touch. After that, they're just regular cats. :)
2007-10-19 11:15:41 · answer #4 · answered by pixy_stix 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it's feral, you won't be able to pet it, ever, because it will run away or bite you (not play biting, either!).
2007-10-19 11:15:15 · answer #5 · answered by Jodie G 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋