street cats

Street cats are domestic cats that live outdoors without an owner, finding food and shelter in towns, markets, alleys and yards. They belong to the same species as pet cats, and what sets them apart is how they live and how used they are to people.

Two kinds are usually distinguished. Strays are cats that once had a home and were lost or left behind. They are socialised to humans and can often be adopted again. Feral cats were born outside or have lived wild for so long that they avoid people and behave like wild animals. Kittens of feral mothers can become tame if handled young. Street cats often gather in loose groups called colonies around a steady food source, such as rubbish bins or a person who feeds them.

Life outside is hard. These cats face traffic, disease, hunger, cold and fights, and unneutered females can have several litters. Many cities and charities manage colonies through trap, neuter and return, in which cats are caught, sterilised, often vaccinated, and released where they were found. Supporters say it steadies numbers humanely. Critics point to the harm outdoor cats do to birds and other small wildlife, and the question remains debated.

The subject touches public health, animal welfare and conservation at once. For an individual, understanding street cats means knowing how to approach one safely, when a cat needs rescue and when it is better left where it is, and how feeding without neutering can make a local population grow.