Definitions

Feral - is a cat who has either never had any physical contact with people or contact has diminished over time and typically survives on her own. She will not approach people (with the exception of a caregiver), may live in a group of cats called a colony, wont meow, beg or purr and will likely be nocturnal, occasionally out during the day. 

 

Stray - is a cat who has been socialized to people at some point but has left or lost her indoor home or was abandoned and no longer has regular human contact.  She can become feral as her contact with people diminishes.  She may approach people and allow touch, likely live alone, be vocal and visible primarily during the day.

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In a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, community cats are humanely trapped, brought to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and eartipped (the universal sign that a cat has been altered) and then returned to their outdoor homes. TNR helps community cats by relieving them of the stresses of mating and breeding and protecting them from diseases. Communities benefit from TNR because it reduces and stabilizes community cat populations, saves tax-payers’ dollars, helps shelters focus on adoptions and provides a humane and collaborative way to address concerns and coexist with cats.