Before setting a trap or contacting a shelter, correctly identifying whether a cat is an owned outdoor pet, a lost stray, or a truly feral community cat dictates the appropriate ethical response.
Comparison Matrix
- Stray Cat: Lost pet. May approach humans, vocalizes/meows, makes eye contact, disheveled coat, appears near porches.
- Feral Cat: Wild-born. Does not vocalize to humans, avoids eye contact, maintains clean well-groomed coat, moves silently at dawn/dusk, hides immediately.
- Outdoor Pet: Well-nourished, comfortable strolling near homes, may wear collar or microchip.