Differentiating wild, domesticated, stray, and feral animals
WARM-BLOODED animals such as mammals and birds thrive in natural environments undisturbed by man. They can be herbivores that eat only plants, carnivores that eat only meat, or omnivores that eat both plants and meat.
Wild animals have never been domesticated, while feral animals are descended from domesticated animals that have escaped or were released into the wild. Feral animals, being born in the wild, have never lived with humans and have minimal or no interaction with people.
Strays are mammals that have been lost or abandoned and living outdoors, often seeking human contact for food as they have lost their hunting skills and aggression. With sufficient food, they continue to reproduce, resulting in large numbers of stray dogs and cats in many areas.
But when feeding stops or food is scarce, they become emaciated and may eventually die of starvation. This is especially problematic for pregnant females as they require more nutrition and nursing mothers to produce enough milk for a litter of newborn puppies and kittens to survive.
Dogs often bite humans when feeling threatened, scared, or trying to protect their territory, possessions, or loved ones, or experiencing discomfort, pain, or hunger. As such, most people give a wide berth to dogs and do not look them in the eyes, which may trigger aggression.
On the other hand, people pet stray cats oblivious to hidden danger. Their furs may look clean but they are not, as they were licked clean by the cat and their tongues could not reach the head and neck. Like dogs, cats also host a range of parasites such as ticks, fleas, and mites.
We often see dogs and cats scratching themselves frantically with their paws trying to get rid of intense itch, which can be more irritating than pain. Like humans, they will lie down comfortably after a full meal and may even doze off. At other times, they can be irritable and aggressive.
Last December, dead cats were found over several days at the sprawling campus ground of University Malaya, which covers 367 hectares, including 140 hectares under secondary forest cover that wild, feral, and stray animals could easily seek refuge and hide.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post published on Jan 2, investigations by the police and Department of Veterinary Services suspected the cats were killed by wild dogs but many Malaysians have doubts about the authorities’ assessment.
The killings stopped after animal rights activists and members of the public descended upon the campus on Dec 22 and rescued 22 cats. Their intervention came after images of the dead cats, many severely mutilated and with missing limbs, were shared over social media.
It is alarming to think that the serial cat killer might target humans in the absence of stray cats. In any case, I do not think the cats were killed by ‘wild’ dogs as reported. The only type of wild dog in Asia, known as dhole, is on the verge of extinction in the entire continent.
Although unlikely, the cats could have been killed by stray dogs infected with rabies, making them highly excitable and aggressive, and could display evidence of depraved appetites such as eating and chewing stones, earth, and rubbish, an eating disorder called pica.
As there is no cure for rabies, all rabid dogs must be euthanised, regardless of whether they are ferals, strays, or household pets. In 2015-2024, there were 50 confirmed rabies cases in the country from dog bites, with 49 incidents in Sarawak resulting in 44 deaths. – YS Chan FocusM, Jan 13, 2025
