Wild Feral Cat Documentary for true cat-lovers - a nocturnal Jungle Cat survives in the wild behind the Backyard. He avoids all human contact and lives wild and free, but how long can he survive there...? This is the conclusion of the multi-part story.
The story of the first feral cat I successfully befriended and found a home for - perhaps this fellows sister: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-p-Hqfab9Y
Part 1 of this cats story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnIcgzMlm8Q
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVPWvFW0Jwk
Relax and contemplate the life of this truly wild and feral Bengal mix cat that survives in the conservation area behind the Backyard. He is rarely seen and it's even rarer to get this big tomcat on film. But checking out some Blue Jay noise behind the back fence I accidentally discovered the big cat's daytime napping spot without him knowing - it was windy and noisy and I was upwind - you will see him smelling into the wind. This encounter was filmed with the camera held over my head just above the fence using the tilt screen so the cat didn't see or sense me until about the six minute mark when I made some noise. Like the ghost that he is - he disappears into the jungle - where humans don't tread! He is a descendant of an abandoned Bengal Cat - his existence - and the plight of all feral cats is human-caused. I have no intention of interfering in this cats life, he is a rat and invasive lizard eater for the most part and he lives with and like the wild creatures that he is - you can see it in his lean, hard cougar-like face. He will never habituate to humans and will live a much shorter life than a typical pet house cat! For previous videos on this amazing cat see: The Secret Life of a Feral Cat:
I hope to have a full-length documentary update on this cat later this Fall. If you want a cat for a pet - go to a shelter and adopt one!
Most feral/stray cats lead much different lives than this cat and live in colonies in high density. To find out more about feral cats and what you can do visit the National Feral Cat Day website: http://nationalferalcatday.org/
Or visit Alley Cat Allies -
http://www.alleycat.org/page.aspx?pid=388
Background Music:
The Dark Glow of the Mountains by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Feral Cat Documentary Part 3 - Stare Meditation - Look into the soul of a striking mixed Bengal Tabby Feral Cat. He returns to the Backyard at dusk after a five-month absence. First introduced in the Documentary "The Secret Life of a Feral Cat" in October 2014.
Narrated documentary on the secret nocturnal life of a feral cat. Relying on ancient instinct and its wits a wild feral cat survives off the land among the wild creatures of the night. The story of the first feral cat is at:
Almost a exactly a year ago I befriended, captured and successfully found a home for a feral Bengal Spotted Tabby mix that looked exactly like this Cat! It hung out around the fire pit in the backyard and even sat in the same place on the same bench! But this is no ghost cat – this big cat – very obviously a Tom – is even wilder and more exotic than last year's cat.
I had been gone filming in the field for 30 days leaving the Backyard empty – this beast has moved into the void - prowling near dusk! Squirrels missing - or moved to safer territory. Piles of Dove feathers here and there. Now that I'm back that will have to stop!
This can be no coincidence, this handsome wild Creature might be the brother of last year's feral cat. But it looks older, perhaps it could even be its father. Two feral cats with such unusual and impressive genetic characteristics - perhaps a littler of them was abandoned and they are somehow reproducing in the impenetrable brush of the conservation area behind the backyard without mixing with other cats and surviving on the fringes of society. Feral cats are uncommon around here – Although suburban now - Raccoons, foxes, and rarely coyotes and native Bobcats live in the wild places like conservation areas. These feral cats are perfectly suited to blend into the dense dark scrub oak and Palmetto brush – once over the fence they disappear as if by magic.
This cat is not afraid – and I don't think he likes me in “his backyard” – watch closely at the end of the video – He's rubbing the bench to mark territory while I'm watching. Socialization is going to be a greater challenge than last year!!!
Feral Cat Documentary. A beautiful feral cat starts hunting backyard wildlife - a dilemma for animal lovers! I decide to watch, film and try to get to know this wild creature and see if a win-win solution is possible. Watch for the bittersweet conclusion....
This feral Bengal Cat and Tabby Cat mix hunts squirrels in the heavy wood and brush behind the backyard and is busted by squirrels and, ironically, Catbirds sounding the alarm. This event was part of the slow process of trying to tame/rescue this impressive wild cat. This cat was incredibly wild and photogenic and I hope to complete a documentary of the process of rescuing this cat in the near future!
Feral Tabby Cat Visits the Backyard Birdbath. First in a series of videos documenting my attempts to socialize or relocate a wild cat that had started hunting birds and squirrels in the backyard. It had killed several Mourning Doves by this time. This cat was very wary and would run into the woods behind the backyard at the first sight or sound of me opening a door. I started the process by observing it from a distance without being detected. It is a big gorgeous cat, but clearly not compatible with Backyard Birding and wildlife, especially our young owlets in the late winter.
Feral (Wild) Tabby Cat in Woods behind the Backyard hunting birds and squirrels. The colors and pattern are about perfect to blend in with environment. Second in a series of videos documenting my attempts to socialize and/or relocate this truly wild cat that had started hunting birds and squirrels in the backyard. It had killed several Mourning Doves by this time. This cat was very wary and would run into the woods behind the backyard at the first sight or sound of me opening a door. I started the process by observing it from a distance without being detected. It is a big gorgeous cat, but clearly not compatible with Backyard Birding and wildlife, especially our young owlets in the late winter.
My closest encounter yet with a born-in-the-wild truly feral cat that lives in the scrub/woods behind the backyard. Strictly a dusk to dawn hunter, this encounter took place near dusk when I accidentally came between the cat and its normal escape route to the rear. It is a very dark video at first as the cat hides behind a tree until the end when it makes its escape. Typical of cats raised in the wild it never vocalizes nor makes much eye contact and runs away if it encounters people. In this case I'm holding my distance of about 20 feet and appearing non-threatening as part of a slow process to begin trying to socialize the cat. I'm sure it does eat a few birds - occasionally unfortunate Mourning Doves on the ground in the morning or early evening are the most likely victims. I have the bird feeders away from potential crouching/ambush spots for the cat. Songbirds it can't get to because of the dense undergrowth and tree growth and the constant vigilance of the squirrels, Jays and Mockingbirds mean its hunting in the daytime would be futile - they watch everything. It most likely subsists on abundant lizards and snakes and small mammals such as wood rats and mice - squirrels are pretty good at the alarm and I have never seen this cat high in the oaks or pines - it would be attacked by hawks and mockingbirds if they did in the daytime. It definitely defers to the large raccoon's at night - I think it may lose that fight and wont risk injury! This is the same cat avoiding a raccoon on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBgCHTf8rcE
Whatever one thinks of feral cats - and I definitly don't like it eating any birds, this one is a magnificent creature. As far as I know we do not have native Bobcats or coyotes in this area - this cat would not exists long if we did - and this one cat fills a niche in the ecosystem. Cats like this with a year or more in the "wild" and wild born are probably not adoptable as pets, so I will leave it be and see if I can come to terms with it in the backyard.
Video of feral cat wisely avoiding a feeding raccoon
Feral cat keeps wary eye on Raccoon.
Not sure if this cat is truly feral, but it is rarely seen in the daytime and always immediately runs into the "jungle" behind the house. The Blue Jays and Mockingbirds, always on guard, make it impossible for it to hunt in the daytime or they sound the alarm and mob it. This cat wisely does not disturb the Raccoon although they use the same trails. More HD videos every week. Please Subscribe at:
