Feral Cats vs Stray Cats

As we move into the winter months, this is the time of year we see an increase in feral cats seeking
shelter in our community, and that often leads to calls from the public about what to do with cats who
do not have a home.
How can you tell the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat? While it might be difficult to tell
between a lost family pet and a feral cat, there are often some common traits of note. A feral cat is a
cat that cannot be safely handled, one that does not wish to have any direct human contact, and a cat
that exhibits shy, skittish, or even aggressive behavior when attempting to approach or interact with it.
We understand that well-meaning members of our community want to help, however we ask that you
do not attempt to force a cat into your care or trap it if it does not want to be handled. Unfortunately,
last week we had such an incident that resulted in a staff member injury. If you find a cat or kitten
within the City of Fond du Lac city limits that you believe is a stray, a cat that is friendly, approachable,
and you believe may be lost from its home, you’re welcome to bring it to the Fond du Lac Humane
Society during regular business hours, or you can contact your local police department for after-hours
assistance or to pick up the animal.
At this time, neither the City of Fond du Lac nor Fond du Lac County have a TNR (trap-neuter/spay
return) program in place, and because of that, we have seen an increase in the feral cat population. We
are working with the City of Fond du Lac and other rescue organizations to provide input and assistance
in starting such a program so we can help to reduce the feral cat population.