The Scratching Post – 2014 Issue No. 2

Let’s start with a simple definition: A feral cat, is a cat that is not socialized with humans.

While feral cats are socialized to their colony members (meaning their fellow cats) and may be bonded to each other, they do not have that same relationship with people.

The following diagram gives a visual look at the various kinds of free roaming cats and below the diagram we have provided additional details on the differences between strays and ferals.

Image from feralcatproject.org

Stray: A stray cat is a cat who has been socialized to people at some point in her life, but has left or lost her domestic home, as well as most human contact and dependence.  Over time, a stray cat can become feral as her contact with humans dwindles.  Under the right circumstances, however, a stray cat can also become a pet cat once again. Stray cats that are re-introduced to a home after living outdoors may require a period of time to re-acclimate; they may be frightened and wary after spending time outside away from people.

Feral: A feral cat is a cat who has either never had any contact with humans or whose contact with humans has diminished over time. This cat is fearful of people, will do what it can to evade or escape human contact and survives on its own outdoors.  A feral cat is not likely to ever become a lap cat or enjoy living indoors.  Kittens born to feral cats can be socialized at an early age and adopted into homes as pets.

If you have encountered a cat and are trying to determine if the cat is feral or a stray, consult the advice in the Alley Cat Allies article to help you make that determination. Above all, do everything possible to avoid being injured. The Trap-Neuter-Return philosophy takes into account each cat’s level of socialization to determine the best environment for them. Socialized cats and kittens can be adopted into homes.  On the other hand, feral cats must be returned to their outdoor home after being trapped and spayed or neutered.

If you wish to learn more on the differences between stray and feral cats visit the Alley Cat Allies Website.

A. If you were to ask this question to 5 different veterinarians you would probably get 5 different answers. Tails High recommends feeding your cat wet food exclusively. Below we have weighed the pros and cons of each.

The Case for Wet Food:

Cats are carnivores by nature so you should always make sure that your food’s first ingredient is a meat such as turkey, chicken, venison, beef, not a byproduct, a plant, or a grain. Cats are different than dogs in this aspect as they lack specific metabolic pathways and cannot use plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins. Taurine is an amino acid found in animal proteins and a deficiency of this nutrient in your cat’s diet can cause blindness and heart problems.

Also interesting to note is that cats have a very low thirst drive. They need to consume about 70 percent water in their diet. Canned food averages 78 percent, and dry food averages 10 percent. Cats on dry food diets usually don’t get enough water and may become chronically dehydrated which contributes to health problems like Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) and urinary crystals that can cause blockage. This is one of the main reasons that many vets recommend wet food. Another reason is that wet food tends to be lower in carbohydrates than its dry food counterpart. Too many carbs can lead to obesity and/or diabetes in cats so foods with less carbohydrates while still providing the necessary protein and other nutrients is a better choice.

The Case for Dry Food:

It is sometimes thought that dry food is better for your kitty’s dental health but regular dental brushing and cleaning is important regardless of the food your cats eat. Many vets will advise against the habit of leaving dry food available all day though. Think about what humans would look like if we let ourselves snack all day! Dry food does tends to have more calories than wet food, so while dry food may be effective for an undernourished cat who needs to gain weight there’s a risk that a normal, healthy cat could become overweight as a result.

It’s because of all this that Tails High sticks with our recommendation to provide canned/wet food as your kitty’s primary food source. But in the end, it is your personal choice what to feed your cat. Be sure your cat gets enough water and animal nutrients in their diet and only gets the carbohydrates they need. If you choose to switch your cat’s diet, always do so slowly while mixing both the old and new foods to avoid any digestion problems during the transition. For more information on the nutritional composition of various cat foods, see the incredibly informative charts at Catinfo.org. You’ll also find a lot of good information about cat nutrition and foods at Little Big Cat.

Do you have an opinion or a personal experience on wet vs dry food? Let us know, either post your comments to our Facebook page or send us an email with your story. We will feature the best stories in next month’s newsletter!