Cats in the UK
There are over 10 million pet cats in the UK, but the total cat population is considerably higher. This is because the number of pet cats doesn’t include stray or feral cats. These are cats that are not owned by a household but instead live on the streets or on farmland.
What is the difference between stray and feral cats?
Stray cats are tame cats that were once owned and have got lost or been abandoned. They often loiter around residential areas as they know food comes from people, and they may 'adopt' one or more homes where they regularly visit to be fed. Stray cats cope variably well on their own. Some will try to move in with a new family, while others are more wary of people and happy going door-to-door.
Feral cats are those that have never been kept as pets and are essentially wild animals. They are very fearful of people and do not want to be petted or handled. They may live alone, or in large groups known as feral cat colonies. Feral cats are often slimmer than pet cats and may look unkempt or dirty. They scavenge or hunt for food and do not associate people with food provision.
Pet cats, stray cats and feral cats are all the same species. Kittens born to a stray cat will often grow up to be feral, especially if they are not exposed to people during the first few months of life. Conversely, feral kittens taken in when very young may grow up to be tame, pet cats, though this is not always the case.
Why can’t we rescue them all?
Many stray cats are only too happy to become pet cats again and are suitable for rehoming through a rescue centre if there is capacity. Some stray cats are acclimatised to living wild however, and do not cope well going back to a house environment. Many of these are happy to visit the same home/homes for food and may set up base in a garden. If one or more people are happy to watch out for the cat’s wellbeing, ensure appropriate food and shelter is available, and seek veterinary care if needed, there is no reason it is not okay for a stray cat to live predominantly outdoors. A good example of this are farm cats. They help to keep rodents under control, and in return farmers make sure they have shelter available, however they live outside and look after themselves.
Feral cats are very different. It is important to understand that feral cats will always be wild and putting them into a captive environment would be incredibly stressful for them. Kittens learn what is friend or foe at a very early age (less than eight weeks) and if feral kittens have no human interaction during this time, they will likely never be 'tame-able'. Feral cats have developed extremely good survival methods and, provided they are not living somewhere dangerous, do not need 'rescuing'.
How do we help feral cats?
For an animal to survive and thrive, they need access to the five freedoms. These are:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease
- Freedom to express normal behaviour
- Freedom from fear and distress.
The biggest threat to feral cats is over-population, as if colonies grow too large the available resources are spread between more individuals. Injuries and disease are also more common in larger groups.
As already discussed, 'rescuing' feral cats is not an option, and would compromise several of the freedoms listed above. Instead, population control is used to reduce the numbers of feral cats and ensure that cats can survive. This is achieved through mass neutering to prevent breeding, using projects known as 'TNR' (standing for trap-neuter-release or trap-neuter-return). A high percentage of cats need neutering within a short time period to effectively limit breeding, so charities coordinate teams of volunteers to focus on one colony at a time.
Commonly, at the same time as neutering, the cats’ ears are 'tipped', meaning the tip is amputated or notched. This doesn’t harm the cat but means it is obvious from a distance that this cat has been neutered. Trapping is stressful for cats, so ear tipping ensures the same cats aren’t caught and anaesthetised multiple times.
Generally, cats are released back to their existing home as this is their territory. Occasionally, if where they are living is unsuitable or puts them in danger, a TNR project may be used to relocate the cats to a more suitable location such as farms or smallholdings, allotments or even prison grounds.
What do I do if I find a cat?
If you find a cat the temptation is to catch it and bring it to a vet, however this is often unnecessary.
If the cat is not friendly and is keeping its distance, it is probably feral and should be left alone. Trying to catch it risks both you and the cat getting stressed and injured. If the cat is feral but injured, contact the RSPCA.
If the cat is friendly but in good condition, with a healthy bodyweight and a well-groomed fur, it is probably owned, or a stray with a regular suitable food source. Most people do not put collars on outdoor cats, so a lack of collar doesn’t mean a lack of owner. It is best to leave this cat where you find it, as it will make its own way home.
If the cat is friendly and uninjured, but in poor condition, it may still be owned. Some elderly cats can appear quite thin and scruffy, as can cats under treatment for conditions such as hyperthyroidism or kidney disease. You can post a photo on local community forums online to ask if anyone knows the cat, or Cats Protection have printable paper collars you can put on the cat asking their owner to contact you. If you cannot identify an owner, and the cat is not leaving, the next step is to take it to a local vets or Cats Protection centre to have it scanned for a microchip. Be aware that if the cat is not microchipped but is deemed to be in acceptable health, you may have to take it away with you. Most vets are unable to take in strays that do not need medical treatment.
If the cat is injured or obviously ill, it is appropriate to take it to your nearest vets. All vets have a duty of care to provide emergency treatment. If the cat is microchipped, they will contact its owner. If the cat is not microchipped they may provide treatment then ask you to release the cat where you found it, they may admit the cat and try to rehome it once better via staff or a local rescue, or they may decide the kindest decision is euthanasia. Unfortunately, rescue centres are full to bursting, so older stray cats with chronic conditions are very difficult to rehome. If you feel you could offer a home to a stray cat you have found, make this clear to the vets.
Want more information?
If you want more information about stray cats, feral cats, TNR projects or what you can do to help, Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity.
Disclaimer
Please note that the content made available on this webpage is for general information purposes only. Whilst we try to ensure that at the time of writing all material is up to date and reflects industry standards, we make no representation, warranties or guarantees that the information made available is up to date, accurate or complete. Any reliance placed by yourselves is done so at your own risk.