Feral Cat

Feral Cat (Eng.), Gato Salvaje (Sp.), Felis domesticus (Sci.), introduced exotic species-El Yunque NF, Puerto Rico.

Illustration © Michigan Science Art. Information compiled by Alan Mowbray, Interpretive Media Writer, EYNF/LEF

General Information

Class-Mammalia, Order-Feliformis, Family-Felidae, Subfamily-Felinae. Species-F. domesticus. Like most household pets, cats are categorized according to their relationship with their human owners. The first category consists of “homebound” cats, completely dependent on their owners and living solely on the premises. If a cat is allowed to wander, but still is dependent on the owner for food and shelter, it is known as a “free-roaming cat”. If a cat is completely free of its owner to roam and has minimal contact with humans then it is categorized as “feral”. If this feral state continues uninterrupted, the cat and its descendants will become completely independent of humans, and over time will become “wild”. For many years now, local residents who no longer want the responsibility of maintaining their pet cats, have abandoned them in the El Yunque NF believing that their former pets will survive unchanged in the wild. Nothing could be further from the truth; they quickly become feral and if not rescued, soon become wild.

Description

The feral cat is a small animal with features similar to the familiar domestic cat. It can weigh as much as 11 pounds (5 kilograms) but is typically no heavier than 3 to 6 pounds (1.5 -3.0 kilograms) in the wild. Felis domesticus commonly reverts to black, tabby or tortoiseshell coloration, with varying extents of white found on its belly and breast.

Habits

Felis domesticus are a crepuscular species; most active in the late afternoon/early evenivh or in the early morning hours. Feral cats are classified as obligate carnivores, because their physiology is geared toward efficient processing of meat, and lacks efficient processes for digesting plant matter. Feral cats are very effective predators; highly specialized for hunting, their style of hunting uses short bursts of intense exercise punctuated by long periods of rest. Felis domesticus females are seasonally polyestrous; they may have many periods of sexual activity over the course of a year, each period typically lasting from 4 to 7 days. Gestation period is approximately 65 days. The size of a litter averages three to five young, with the first litter usually smaller than subsequent litters. Young are weaned at six or seven weeks, and feral cats normally reach sexual maturity at 4–10 months (females) and 5–7 months (males).

Habitat

Feral cats prefer lower elevation montane, second growth forests as habitats. They may prefer these locations because they provide shelter and food resources, such as small mammals. They also contain tree cavities which can be use as dens.

Note: As a consequence of their exceptional hunting ability, feral cats can be quite destructive to ecosystems such as those found in the El Yunque National Forest, where they are not a native species, and where local species have not had time to adapt to feline introduction. In some cases, cats have contributed to or caused extinctions. Due to their hunting behavior, in many countries feral cats are considered pests.

Where to look for this animal in the EYNF

Felis domesticus can occasionally be seen near at Visitor Centers and near Nature Trails in the Tabonuco, Palo Colorado and Sierra Palm sections of the El Yunque National Forest.