• Feral cats need to be cared for in a different way than other catsthe cat image by Andrzej Dziedzic from Fotolia.com
  
  Feral cats are those that have been raised in the wild, with limited contact with humans. Feral cats differ from stray cats in that they actively avoid any human contact. They are happier outdoors rather than inside. Per the ASPCA, there are tens of millions of feral cats in the United States. Handling feral cats properly is important to their health, and also to prevent them from reproducing.
  
  

Trap

• You will eventually need to trap the feral cat in order to get it medical attention and spayed. It's likely that the cat will not come near you if it's truly feral. Put out food in the areas that you have seen the cat. Feed him every day in the same place, at the same time. Once this has continued for at least three or four days, trap the cat using a humane trap. Obtain one from your local animal shelter.
  
  

Health

• If you have trapped the feral cat, take her to a veterinarian. The cat will receive the necessary tests for feline AIDS and leukemia, as well as vaccinations. Also, the feral cats need to be neutered or spayed. If not, than she will just continue to have more kittens that won't have homes.
  
  

Behavior

• While you may be able to socialize a feral cat in some instances, it's quite rare. If the cat is more than four months old, it will likely always be a feral cat. Socializing a feral cat requires time and patience. They will never be house pets and will always prefer to be outside. That doesn't mean that you can't care for them. Provide feral cats with food each day, as well as shelter. If you aren't able to do so, take the feral cat to a shelter.