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Feral Cats:
Caring for, Handling, and Socializing
What is a feral cat?
By definition, a feral cat is a domesticated cat that lives outdoors and is fearful of humans. They are often also referred to as "Community Cats" or "Strays." Most outdoor cats have multiple caretakers, aka, people who feed them and/or watch out for them. While plenty of outdoor cats are seemingly friendly and even enjoy interacting with humans, most of them have never been formally handled or restrained by humans. Other feral cats avoid humans at all costs, and most require a cat trap to be caught. The most important thing to remember is that a feral cat is not inherently "mean," they simply have never been handled before and are scared. Because of this, they will defend themselves when they feel threatened, just like any other cat would.
Disclaimer and Special Considerations
There are various reasons why you might need to handle or socialize a feral cat. However, if an outdoor cat or Community Cat is seemingly healthy, spayed/neutered (ear-tipped), and is living their life outdoors- let them do just that. Almost all outdoor cats were born and raised outside; they know the land, they know how to find food, and they know how to survive. It’s okay for a cat to live outside; they enjoy it, it’s their natural habitat and they likely have one or more caretakers who feed and look out for them. Of course, there are always risks to living outdoors, but these cats would rather take those risks in order to maintain their freedom.
However, if you are taking in a feral cat with plans to medicate, hospitalize, socialize, or handle them in any way, safety is of utmost importance. Physically handling and restraining a feral cat takes advanced skills and confidence. If you plan to handle a feral cat, you MUST understand the risks. Feral cats can cause serious bodily harm to you and themselves if proper precautions are not taken. There is also the major risk of the cat escaping. An escaped feral cat is extremely difficult to recapture if not in a secured room. If a feral cat is temporarily being housed or hospitalized with the goal of releasing them back within two weeks or less, and they do not require handling for medications or other procedures, socialization is not necessary; however, it still can be very beneficial during this time.
Every cat will react differently to human handling. Being able to recognize cat behavior and subtle warning signs is essential when working with feral cats.
That being said, some cats will be much more manageable than others and can even be transitioned into pets or barn cats, while some may require extensive socialization, and others simply don't want to be socialized and that's okay. Manage them as best you can until they can be returned to where they came from. Whether this is feasible for you depends on your time, skill level, and comfort. The cat's quality of life should be discussed with a veterinarian when appropriate. It is inhumane to house a feral cat for extended periods of time without appropriate socialization and/or enrichment opportunities.
Tools to have when preparing to handle a feral cat
Handling and Medicating
Again, do what is feasible for you and the cat and always, always handle the cat in a secure room. When handling feral cats, I find the Superman towel wrap to work for most cats. This towel wrap technique is ideal for removing feral cats from feral boxes, crates, and kennels, catching a loose cat, and administering medications such as injections or applying ointments. For oral medications, it is better to mix it in wet food, canned tuna, or Churu to avoid additional stressful handling, when possible. Every cat is different, so you must go slow and test the waters for a few days to see how they respond. Below are examples of how I handle hospitalized feral cats. As you'll see, some took very well to it, while others did not. Most of these cats will exhibit their most severe stress/ flight behaviors in the first 30 seconds of being handled for the first time, but once you're able to secure them in a towel, they almost always calm down quickly. That being said, do not let your guard down or they will try to escape. *The most common time for a cat to try and break free is when you are putting them back into their kennel or housing unit, so be extra cautious*
Socializing
To successfully socialize feral cats, you need the skills and confidence to handle them without cat gloves. While gloves can be useful for briefly restraining a fractious cat, they should not be used for routine handling or socialization. Their bulk prevents the gentle touch and precise movements that fearful or feral cats require. To be clear, this isn’t about simply avoiding cat gloves—it’s about already being skilled and comfortable enough to work safely without relying on them.
Assessing a Feral Cat
It is virtually impossible to tell the difference between a feral cat and an extremely fearful pet cat. Because of this, don't assume that it's one or the other and treat them with equal respect. I assess feral cats the same way I assess any other cat. Using the FAS chart is helpful to gauge how stressed they are and how to approach them. If they are in a cat trap, move them to a quiet and secure room, cover the trap with a blanket, and let them calm down for 5-10 minutes. Next, uncover half the trap slowly, talk gently to them
If they are already in a kennel, they should have a feral box provided to them for hiding. Some cats will hide as far back in the kennel or box as they can and some will be wide-eyed and out of their box. Both can still be experiencing the same level of fear; but some are actively looking for a way out, so be extra cautious if you see a feral cat not hiding, but they still seem very scared.
Always assess them first before getting them out, but to truly assess behavior, you'll want to use the Superman Towel Wrap.