Dave ....
If you have rabies in your area, feral cats can be as dangerous to your children as any big cat. There was a lady up here that regularly fed the feral cats around her place and one of her "regulars" bit her. Her husband caught the cat and it was tested and found to have rabies. She had to go through all of the shots ... not a pleasant experience.
We often have cougars coming to town. Usually, they are young males that are seeking new territory and are inefficient hunters. I think they are drawn by the large population of deer that live in town.
Last fall when I went out to a friend's place to gather leaves for mulch, she carried her gun because there has been a cougar hanging around her place. He's still around and now, she can't even go out to her greenhouse without carrying a gun. She's removed brush, installed all kinds of lighting to light up the area around the house at night, and this cat just keeps coming back. He is no longer afraid of people and the simply makes him more dangerous.
Take care.
Lyn
