Research overview: population genetics of feral cats

Genetic tools illuminate how feral cat populations are connected, structured and sourced, informing management, and this overview surveys that research. It examines studies using molecular markers to assess gene flow among colonies, relatedness within them, and the contribution of pet cat abandonment versus self-sustaining feral breeding to population maintenance. The survey discusses how genetic structure reveals dispersal patterns and barriers, the degree of mixing between owned and unowned cats, and implications for whether controlling one source can reduce the whole. It also touches on hybridization with wildcats where ranges overlap. By compiling population-genetic findings, the survey shows how genetics complements field demography in understanding the dynamics of free-roaming cat populations and in designing interventions that account for connectivity and the origins of feral animals.