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How can you tell if a cat is a stray or just an outdoor pet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

What is the difference between a stray cat and an outside housecat?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on December 20th, 2018

Stray cats are typically cats that don't belong to anyone and live outside. They may also be feral (avoiding human contact) and live in colonies or groups of other cats. Cats that are not fixed may roam or fight with each other. Outdoor housecats are cats that are usually owned by someone but live primarily indoors. They may come insides for food or when it's really cold, and also typically receive veterinary care from their owners.

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