Feral cats A feral cat lives outdoors and has never been socialized to humans. This means they are not likely to enjoy the “luxuries” of indoor living. Most feral cats are fearful of humans. They are not aggressive when left alone but may act with aggression if too much contact is attempted by a human when the cat does not have a visible escape route.
Semi-feral cats A semi-feral cat has had some contact and experience with humans and has developed a comfort level with humans due to feeding, receiving medical care or similar contacts, but is unsuitable as an indoor pet.
Social cats While social cats are more likely to seek out attention from humans and may allow petting on their terms, behavior can vary between individuals, and not all cats tolerate handling. It should be noted that these cats may be owned, outdoor-dwelling cats. Check for a spay/neuter tattoo or ear tip, and a microchip before bringing a socialized cat in for spay and neuter services.
Trap-Neuter-Return is the best thing to do to help feral cats and cat overpopulation, preventing new kittens every year while reducing the spread of disease and territory marking behaviors. We advocate for returning the altered cat to the original location. Relocation is an ineffective tactic as many community cats will seek out their original territory or colony and relocation exposes the territory to future unaltered cats, restarting the breeding cycle.
Community cats is a term to classify all outdoor cats, regardless of ownership and socialization, including but not limited to feral cats, stray cats, and owned outdoor cats. Where a feral cat is completely unsocialized to humans, stray cats may have been socialized at some point in their life but no longer have regular human contact. Meanwhile, an outdoor cat may live a combination indoor/outdoor life. Outdoor cats may have consistent human interaction and access to both indoor and outdoor spaces for enrichment purposes.
We believe the best option for a feral cat is returning to its territory where it knows how to survive. That said, we evaluate each cat’s behavior to assess their adoptability and placement, including potential placement in the Humane Colorado working cat program. If the cat is deemed social and healthy, it will be placed for general adoption. There are few cases where a feral cat becomes more social with their people over time, it is rare to build trust and socialize an adult feral cat or kittens over 16 weeks.
Kittens under 16 weeks are at a great age for socialization and adoption. Kittens, especially those under 8 weeks, are vulnerable, so it is important to ask yourself these questions when considering trapping a kitten: Have you seen the kitten(s) with a mother cat? Did the mom cat come back for the kittens a few hours later? Answer “No” to both questions? Take the kittens to your nearest animal shelter as soon as possible. If you’ve seen a mom, do not separate the kittens from her. Once the kittens are walking on their own, and if you are comfortable doing so, trap the kittens for spay/neuter services. If you are not comfortable trapping on your own, contact a local shelter service for assistance.
Life as a barn cat, or working cat, can be a great option for unsocial (feral) or semi-social cats, in the right situation and with the right planning. Often when people try to relocate a feral cat into a barn home, the cat attempts to return to the area they lived before, which can be dangerous. Usually, barn home placement, working cat placement, or relocation is if it is the last choice when there are no better options for the cat. When it is the best option and the process is done methodically, it can be a success for the cat and the caretaker. There are a few reasons when relocating a feral cat makes sense: The caregiver is no longer able to care for the colony and there is no one else willing to take over colony care. The area the cat came from is being demolished or is otherwise no longer a safe habitat. The cat’s safety and health is a concern due to other circumstances in the original area. There has been a significant change in the resources (access to food, water or shelter) in the original area, and it will no longer support the cat’s survival. If you have a barn or other location and are interested in a working cat, view our available cats and submit a request form today.
