One might think that stray cats live short lives alone and in dangerous conditions, without any owner. However, not all of these assumptions are necessarily true. Your own cat might officially be considered a stray—even if you are its owner.

advertisement

The MAVED (Hungarian Cat Protection Public Benefit Foundation) recently published a highly informative—and perhaps divisive—post on Facebook. Responsible cat ownership is still in its infancy in Hungary, but slowly and surely, the mindset of those who love purring, furry companions is beginning to shift. Still, the number of outdoor, unneutered stray cats remains alarmingly high across the country. Just because a cat has somewhere to return to, receives regular food, water, or even medication, doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t classified as a stray or free-roaming cat.

While everyday language tends to label all outdoor, unowned cats as “strays,” it’s important for anyone involved in animal protection—whether as a compassionate individual or as part of an organization—to understand that these animals have varying ethological needs and limitations when it comes to socialization. Cats are an exceptionally adaptable species, and it’s crucial that we, as animal advocates, continue to learn and adapt to their needs,

– summarized the organization.

We’ve already covered the importance of keeping cats within one’s property, and now we’ll take a closer look at the different types of stray cats we might encounter—and how we can help them.

Feral cats can cause a huge ecological problem

Types of Feral and Stray Cats

Cats that have lived on the streets for generations and have become feral—distanced from humans—can be found in large numbers in abandoned buildings, around factories, or on the outskirts of cities. Their presence poses a threat not only to birds but also to protected reptiles, since they are natural hunters. And cats don’t only hunt when they’re hungry—they’re opportunistic predators. Because of their reclusive lifestyles and difficulty with socialization, animal protectors typically catch them using humane traps, have them neutered, and return them to the location where they were found.

advertisement

Street cats are still stray cats; even if you feed them every day

Even Owned Cats Can Be Considered Free-Roaming

Cats that are allowed to roam outside can cover vast territories. Officially, if they don’t live in an enclosed garden and can move beyond the property line, they are classified as free-roaming. If you have an indoor-outdoor or garden cat, MAVED emphasizes that neutering is crucial, as unneutered cats can effectively become stray cat factories. Their health and safety may also be at risk—not only from stray dogs or those living in other gardens, but also from vehicles like cars and bicycles. Contact with other stray or sick cats, territorial fights, and mating can result in injuries or even lead to the transmission of deadly diseases.