Introduction
Feral cats are cats that have reverted to a wild state after living with humans or being socialized to humans. They typically live outdoors in groups called colonies and avoid human contact. Indoor cats, on the other hand, are domesticated pets that live exclusively indoors with human families. They rely on their owners for food, shelter, and companionship (https://www.alleycat.org/resources/feral-and-stray-cats-an-important-difference/).
While feral cats adapt to outdoor survival, indoor cats are safe from diseases and dangers outdoors. However, some people wonder if feral cats can spread diseases to indoor cats through limited contact. This article examines the disease risks feral cats may pose to indoor felines.
Diseases Feral Cats Can Carry
Feral cats can carry and transmit a variety of diseases that may pose risks to pets and humans. Some of the most concerning diseases carried by feral cats include:
Feline Leukemia Virus
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that causes anemia, immunosuppression, and lymphoma in cats. It is spread through direct contact with an infected cat’s saliva, urine, feces, or blood. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2-3% of cats in the United States are infected with FeLV.[1]
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is another retrovirus that causes immunodeficiency and increased susceptibility to other infections in cats. It is primarily spread through bite wounds from infected cats. Approximately 2.5% of cats in the U.S. are infected with FIV.[2]
Rabies
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can infect all mammals, including cats and humans. It is spread through saliva, usually via bites from infected animals. Feral cats are at high risk for rabies exposure. According to the CDC, cats accounted for 27.4% of all animal rabies cases in 2018.[3]
Roundworms and Hookworms
Roundworms and hookworms are intestinal parasites that cats can shed in their feces. Humans that come into contact with infected feces, usually through contaminated soil, can develop larval migrations, causing symptoms like cough and skin irritation. Young children are at highest risk.[4]
Transmission Risks
Feral cats can spread diseases through direct contact with humans or pets, as well as through contamination of the environment. Direct contact with feral cats or their bodily fluids can transmit bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections. Diseases like ringworm, toxoplasmosis, rabies and cat scratch disease require close contact for transmission. While feral cats tend to avoid humans, contact can occur through bites, scratches, or touching soiled areas. Care should be taken when handling feral cats to avoid direct transfer of pathogens.
Feral cats may also contaminate the environment through their urine, feces, or by shedding infected fleas. Diseases like toxoplasmosis and roundworm can spread when humans come in contact with contaminated soil, food or water. Flea-borne infections like bartonellosis (cat scratch fever) can also be acquired from the environment. Maintaining clean outdoor spaces, covering trash receptacles and keeping cats out of gardens or sandboxes can help reduce environmental contamination. Proper cooking of food and hand washing minimizes risk of ingesting disease from the environment. While environmental contamination is possible, the overall risk is relatively low for humans that avoid direct contact with feral cats.
Protecting Indoor Cats
The best way to protect indoor cats from diseases carried by feral cats is to keep them indoors. Indoor cats have a longer average lifespan than outdoor cats, and are not exposed to common feline illnesses spread by feral colonies like feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) (1).
Indoor cat owners should keep their cats up to date on core vaccinations like rabies, panleukopenia virus, calicivirus, and herpesvirus. These vaccines protect against serious and potentially fatal diseases. Annual veterinary exams allow evaluation of health and administration of needed vaccines (2).
Regular deworming is also recommended even for strictly indoor cats, as they can pick up worms and parasites from grooming or ingesting a flea. Broad spectrum dewormers cover hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and other intestinal parasites. Consult a veterinarian on the appropriate deworming schedule for the cat (1).
Trap-Neuter-Return Programs
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs involve humanely trapping feral cats, spaying or neutering them, and then returning them to their outdoor home. According to the Alley Cat Allies, TNR stops the breeding cycle and reproduction of feral cats, thereby improving their lives while limiting population growth (https://www.alleycat.org/resources/why-trap-neuter-return-feral-cats-the-case-for-tnr/).
TNR programs provide several benefits for disease control. Neutering cats reduces fighting and roaming behaviors that facilitate disease transmission. Spayed/neutered cats are also more likely to receive vaccinations against contagious diseases during the TNR process. Testing and isolation procedures may also be implemented to prevent the spread of certain illnesses. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, immunizations given during TNR protect feral cats against diseases like feline leukemia, respiratory infections, and rabies (https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/managing-feral-cats). Overall, TNR improves feral cat health and limits disease transmission risks.
Testing and Veterinary Care
When it comes to testing feral cats for diseases like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), most TNR programs do not routinely test all feral cats. According to https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/how-to-tnr/veterinary/fiv-felv-testing, testing every feral cat is not considered an efficient use of limited resources. Instead, programs focus on vaccinating and sterilizing the cats to prevent further spread of disease.
Some reasons not to test every feral cat include:
- A positive test result does not change the course of action since the cats would still be sterilized and returned to their outdoor home.
- False positives are possible with testing.
- Testing costs money that could be better used for sterilization to prevent further reproduction and disease transmission.
According to https://www.alleycat.org/resources/protocols-testing-feline-immunodeficiency-virus-fiv-and-feline-leukemia-virus-felv/, the cost of testing can hinder TNR success. It’s better to use resources on sterilization and vaccination instead. Testing is optional, not mandatory.
However, any feral cats that are visibly sick should be tested so they can receive treatment if positive. Kittens and friendly adults that will be adopted into homes should also be tested. Overall though, routine disease testing for all feral cats is not considered an efficient use of resources by most TNR programs.
Community Cat Colonies
Managed colonies of community cats that have undergone Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) can safely coexist with humans, indoor pets, and wildlife. TNR involves humanely trapping feral cats, spaying or neutering them, vaccinating them against rabies, and returning them to their outdoor home. This stabilizes the colony population and improves the cats’ health.
Ongoing colony management by caretakers is a key part of successful TNR programs. Caretakers provide regular feeding, monitor cats for illness, and facilitate medical care. Food and water are essential to discourage cats from hunting wildlife or scavenging. Caretakers also provide basic shelter, like insulated bins, to protect cats from the elements.
Well-managed colonies do not pose a significant disease risk. In fact, they may improve community health by reducing feral cat populations and preventing the spread of infections like rabies. TNR also avoids the vacuum effect that occurs when colonies are simply removed – other cats move in to take over the territory and breed prolifically.
Adoption of Feral Kittens
Adopting feral kittens requires patience and care to help socialize them. Feral kittens under 8 weeks old can often be tamed with regular human handling, petting, and playing. Kittens 8-12 weeks old are still young enough to be socialized, but may take more time and effort. Kittens over 12 weeks old are less likely to become friendly house pets (1).
Prior to adoption, feral kittens should receive a full veterinary examination, deworming, flea treatment, and core vaccines like rabies, panleukopenia, calicivirus, and rhinotracheitis (2). Testing for feline leukemia and FIV is also recommended to ensure the kitten is not carrying serious contagious diseases. Spaying/neutering should be done prior to adoption as well.
When introducing a feral kitten to a home with other pets, precautions should be taken. Keep the kitten isolated in a separate room initially, and slowly introduce it to the other animals under supervision over a period of several weeks. This allows time for diseases to be detected and prevents fighting/injuries from sudden introductions.
Sources:
(1) https://www.petmd.com/cat/care/challenges-taking-street-cats
(2) https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-risks-of-bringing-a-feral-kitten-inside-if-she-is-vaccinated-and-friendly
Feral Cat Population Control
Spaying/neutering feral cats is the most effective method for controlling feral cat populations and disease spread. Trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs involve humanely trapping feral cats, spaying/neutering them, vaccinating them against rabies, and then returning them to their outdoor home. TNR has been shown to stabilize and reduce feral cat populations over time by stopping reproduction.
According to research cited on VCA Animal Hospitals, a TNR program in Central Florida resulted in the feral cat population decreasing by 66% over 11 years. The American Veterinary Medical Association supports TNR as a humane method of feral cat population control. TNR also prevents nuisance behaviors associated with unneutered cats, such as yowling, fighting, and marking territories.
Vaccinating feral cats for rabies through TNR programs helps protect both cats and humans. Rabies vaccines are effective for 1-3 years depending on the type administered. Many TNR programs re-trap cats periodically to keep them up to date on vaccines. Maintaining a feral cat colony that has been TNR’d and vaccinated minimizes the risk of disease transmission to owned cats and humans.
Conclusion
In summary, while feral cats can carry diseases that may pose some risk to indoor cats if they interact, the risk is relatively low if proper precautions are taken. Diseases like FIV, FeLV, FIP, and rabies, while serious, are not easily transmitted through casual contact. Outdoor access, wounds from fighting, and exposure to feces present the highest risks of transmission.
Pet owners can best protect indoor cats by keeping them up-to-date on vaccines, preventing outdoor access or interaction with ferals, having new cats examined and quarantined by a vet, keeping litter boxes clean, washing hands after contact, and using flea/tick prevention. Practicing safe TNR programs for community cats, along with adoption of friendly ferals, is also recommended to help control populations and disease spread.
While feral cats may carry concerning diseases, vigilant pet owners can take steps to greatly minimize any risks to their indoor cats. With proper precautions and care, indoor and outdoor cat populations can co-exist in a community.
