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Some cat info!!
Feral cats have no become un-domesticated. Feral cats are still domesticated animals just like feral dogs are still domesticated.
Here's one way to you can tell:
Feral cats have no become un-domesticated. Feral cats are still domesticated animals just like feral dogs are still domesticated.
Here's one way to you can tell:
If you take the kitten of a feral cat before like six months and raise it as you'd raise any other pet cat, the kitten will not be feral. The kitten will act as if its mother was not feral. There's no inherent wildness in the kitten
If you take a lion cub or tiger cub or lynx cub or whatever when it's young, it will still grow up into a wild animal, with wild instincts.
Sure it may be "tame" in some ways, but it will not be domesticated. If it were to have cubs those cubs would also be wild.
Same thing when it comes to wolves and dogs. A wolf will not ever act like a pet dog
Same thing when it comes to wolves and dogs. A wolf will not ever act like a pet dog
"Feral" is not the same thing as "wild"
Feral is when domesticated animals establish populations without human management. Remember 30-50 feral hogs? They were feral because they're domesticated pigs that had established a large non-managed population
Feral is when domesticated animals establish populations without human management. Remember 30-50 feral hogs? They were feral because they're domesticated pigs that had established a large non-managed population
Feral cats, genetically, are the same as house cats. They're just cats who live in colonies that, while human dependent, are not managed directly by humans. Feral cats have not "gone back to being wild animals"
Now, hybridization is a thing. Domestic cats can generally mate with various wildcat species and produce viable offspring. This doesn't happen super often in the wild--it's more common for people to create hybrids (e.g. Bengals)
This is like domestic dogs being bred to wolves to create wolf-dogs
A lot of times this doesn't work out particularly well for the animal and the people who own it. Domestication doesn't cancel out wild instinct
A lot of times this doesn't work out particularly well for the animal and the people who own it. Domestication doesn't cancel out wild instinct
Ok so why is this important?
Well because if people assume feral cats are wild animals, it's harder to make them understand that ferals are dependent on humans--our garbage & other food provided by human populations
Well because if people assume feral cats are wild animals, it's harder to make them understand that ferals are dependent on humans--our garbage & other food provided by human populations
Feral cats are NOT "part of nature." They're non-native species that can cause serious declines in native wildlife. Feral cats (and dogs and pigs) are harmful to actual wild animals
And, of course, these animals suffer horribly
And, of course, these animals suffer horribly
Feral cat control is something we're responsible for and leaving out food for them isn't enough. Trap/Neuter/Release programs can control the number of feral cats giving birth, preventing more invasive predators from destroying natural wildlife
Cats are not "wild." Feral cats have not "reverted back to wild animals"
They are domesticated and as such, they are our responsibility to manage and care for
They are domesticated and as such, they are our responsibility to manage and care for
Anyway I help TNR when I can and you can help me! https://twitter.com/ellle_em/status/1309999500992405504?s=20
