Don't Call Me Feral : The ChuckNorris Chronicles

ChuckNorris chilliin' at home!

The loving nature of cat on the streets - he is NOT feral!

I recently read an article from the Community Cat Coalition about the feral label and thought that I would share a story about my own cat, ChuckNorris...a gorgeous blue-eyed flamepoint siamese.

There’s a label we need to talk about—feral. It gets tossed around way too easily, and for cats like ChuckNorris, that label can be downright dangerous.

Let me take you back.

ChuckNorris showed up outside one of our foster homes looking like a wild little warrior—dirty, scrappy, darting from bush to bush. The person who spotted him thought, “He’s definitely feral.” We’ve all heard it. When a cat won’t approach, hisses, or hides, people assume they’ve never known human love.

But here's the thing: ChuckNorris was just terrified. Not feral. Big difference.

There he was—lounging nearby like he owned the yard. One of our volunteers crouched, whispered sweet things, and slowly reached out a hand. Chuck sniffed. Didn’t bolt. In fact, he leaned in.

Not feral. Just scared.

Why does this matter?

Because if ChuckNorris had ended up in a public shelter labeled “feral,” that might have been it. Shelters don’t have the luxury of time or space. A cat marked “feral” is often either euthanized or dumped in a barn program, whether or not they want that life.

But Chuck? He wanted belly rubs.

Within days of arriving in foster, this “feral” cat was rolling over, stretching his legs, purring, and meowing for attention. Not wild. Just waiting for someone to give him a chance.

So here’s what we ask: Don’t use the word “feral” unless you truly know. Instead, ask:

• Does the cat show up in daylight?

• Do they move casually, tail up?

• Do they make eye contact?

• Do they vocalize?

• Do they let you get within 30 feet?

If yes—even just one or two of those—pause before slapping that label on them. What you’re likely seeing is a stray, a dumped pet, or a cat who’s had a hard time and is playing it safe.

Labels matter. For cats like ChuckNorris, they can mean life or death.

Today, ChuckNorris isn’t living in a barn or behind a dumpster. He’s sprawled across a a couch, ruling his kingdom with a twitch of a whisker. He’s a beloved house cat. A snuggle bug. A reminder that every scared cat deserves a chance to be known—not labeled.

Rescue cats are meowjical. But only if we see them for who they really are.