Feral Cat Basics

What are feral cats and why should I care that they are on our campus?

So, What Makes a Cat Feral?

The Humane Society of the United States defines a feral cat as

"the offspring of lost or abandoned pet cats or other feral cats who are not spayed or neutered."

In general feral cats:

Are not accustomed to contact with people
Are fearful of humans and difficult to handle
Are not dependent on humans
Have been introduced everywhere that humans have traveled
Live in colonies in areas where they can find food and shelter

As a general rule, free-roaming cat population size is estimated to be equal to approximately one-sixth of the human population.

By this logic, we could estimate there to be around 49,000 free-roaming cats in Lincoln.

Are feral cats and stray cats different?

Yes, they are! While many people may use the terms "feral" and "stray" interchangably when referring to cats, there are a few key differences.

Unlike feral cats, stray cats are:

Tame pets that have been lost or abandoned
Accustomed to contact with people
Often adopted into new homes (or reunited with old families)

However, both feral and stray cats are categorized as "free-roaming cats" and can be problematic for local ecosystems and communities.

Can feral cats be tamed and put up for adoption?

Generally, no.

Sometimes feral kittens can be socialized successfully if they are removed from the colony early enough, but adult feral cats will almost always want to avoid people. Adapting an outdoor cat to be indoors and around people is possible, but it is a very difficult and time-consuming process that is often very stressful for the cat.

Furthermore, most animal shelters already have an overwhelming amount of socialized cats that are not getting adopted. Efforts for controlling the feral cat population are best spent elsewhere.

Why are feral
cats a problem in urban areas?

1 / Overpopulation

80% of the kittens born each year are from free-roaming cats, making them the main source of cat overpopulation in animal shelters. Free-roaming cats that are not spayed can get pregnant starting at 5 months and can have a litter of 3-4 kittens every year. Caring for these cats and/or putting them down can cause financial strain on animal shelters.

2 / Predation on Native Wildlife

Free-roaming cats are responsible for hundreds of millions of bird, small mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, and fish mortalities. Cats are opportunistic hunters, and will hunt prey several times a day. As an invasive species, they could also outcompete native predators for resources. These behaviors are highly disruptive to local ecosystems.

3 / Disease

Unvaccinated feral cats can be carriers of diseases such as rabies, Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), toxoplasmosis, sarcocystis, among many other viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. Primary forms of disease spread include: physical contact, bodily fluid contact (saliva, urine, feces, milk, etc.), and bite wounds. Though possible, these diseases are rarely spread from cat to human.

3 / Nuisance

In urban areas with feral cats, residents often complain of noises from cats mating or fighting, odors from feces and urine, and the disturbing site of sickly cats.

4 / Property Damage

A feral cat presence may result in scratching at or defecation / urination on private or public property.

6 / Threats to Cats in Urban Areas

A feral cat presence in urban areas can also be harmful to the cats themselves. Cats could be hit by cars, consume poison meant for other pests, or fight with other predators in the ecosystem.

Cats of UNL