 While the African wildcat is the ancestral subspecies from which domestic cats are descended , and wildcats and domestic cats can completely interbreed ( Being subspecies of the same species ) , several intermediate stages occur between domestic pet and pedigree cats on one hand and those entirely wild animals on the other . The semiferal cat , a mostly outdoor cat , is not owned by any one individual , but is generally friendly to people and may be fed by several households . Feral cats are associated with human habitation areas and may be fed by people or forage for food , but are typically wary of human interaction . 
