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Cats/behaviour of strays

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Expert: - 10/12/2008


Question
Hello Ali
I help maintain a local Lost& Found Register. Thinking about keeping records and assisting people in searching for their missing cats, I have been wondering what happens to strays which are not found. Some will find a home when they turn up in someone's garden but others must scavenge long term and end up feral. Do you know of any research into the probable behaviour of long-term strays? Do they stay around the area where they were lost? Do they stay for a while, then move further afield? if you could point me in the direction of useful research I would be grateful

Answer
Gina,

Some cats will develop fair sized territories of up to a couple of miles while others will stay fairly close to where they went missing. Cats that have been abandoned don't actually become feral, they may become fearful of people and mistrust them, but on some level these cats still know that they have lived with humans and had their basic needs (food, water, attention, shelter, etc) met. A feral cat is actually a cat that is a wild animal - these cats have never actually had human contact and they view every person as a potential predator. These cats will not usually allow human contact, however some of these feral cats end up being fed by human volunteers over long periods of time. Sometimes truly feral kittens will take a leap of faith and choose a human caregiver. Nobody is sure why this happens for some cats and not others. As far as your search for research regarding the long term behavior of lost or abandoned cats that end up fending for themselves on the streets I haven't heard of any research being done. There are certainly anecdotal stories about cats who end up travelling thousands of miles back home when their human caregivers move or place them in the care of family or friends for awhile. If you do happen to come across formal research on this issue I would certainly be interested in hearing about it. Based on my experience feeding feral and stray cats I would guess that there are a few factors that determine whether or not any given cat will stay close to home. Things like whether or not a cat is spayed or neutered, how dominant or submissive they are, whether or not they have been declawed and for lost or abandoned cats the circumstances that led up to them being lost or abandoned would probably all be important factors. Obviously a sterilized, declawed and submissive cat would probably be less likely to challenge other cats already in the area and he/she may set off to find his/her own territory away from where they originated from. I would think that a dominant, intact cat with claws and the willingness to fight would be able to defend his position and would probably stay close to home. As I mentioned before - this is a guess not formal research.

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Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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