What is a feral cat?

A feral cat is a cat that has regressed to a somewhat wild state. They are former domestic cats who were lost or abandoned by their owners or the offspring of such cats.

Feral cats learn to live outdoors or in places involving little human contact. Most feral cats are not fully wild because they still depend on people for their food, whether directly or indirectly. For example, some people leave food, such as dry commercial cat food, outside for feral cats. Some feral cats also eat what they can find from dumpsters or garbage cans. Very few feral cats survive only through hunting.