What are feral cats?

Feral cats are the offspring of stray or abandoned household pets.  Raised without human contact, they quickly revert to a wild nature and form colonies where food and shelter are available.  Reproducing to the limits of their food supply, they lead meager lives shortened by malnutrition, diseases, trauma and high kitten mortality.  Feral cats also become a public nuisance and make up a large portion of the cats euthanized at Animal Control.