What is a feral cat? A Feral cat describes a domestic cat which has been born in the wild, or the descendants of such an animal, which has had little or no contact with humans. It becomes fearful of humans and is non-socialized. It is different from a stray cat, which has been kept as a pet, lost, or abandoned. The offspring of a stray cat can be considered feral if born in the wild and not socialized with people.

One of the biggest problems with feeding feral cats is that they begin to congregate together in one location and reproduce. The group can grow quickly in numbers because most are not spayed or neutered. A cat can become pregnant as early as 5 months of age. Overpopulation is a serious concern.