Are foxes a threat to cats?

Well Tawnyowl get up at strange times of the day lately.

Got up about half two this morning i find it quite an interesting time to write a few tales, peace and quiet.

Plus as i am not working in construction anymore do not seem to need as much sleep.

Well, that is my answer to anyone who asks what are you doing up this time of day.

My cat Fang had been out most of the night so i decided to call him in to give him a piece of Tuna, a treat.

Opening my front door i called out Fang where are you with the usual chhh chhh chhh we all call out.

He would not come in he usually does.

Then i spotted him, what did you spot old owl.

Only a beautiful fox, a fine looking beast. A full grown Fox, big bushy tail looked in fine health.

Spotted one not long ago next to a railway line smaller and looked quite old.They must have a sixth sense turned its head to look at me as if to say you are a little nosey then trotted off without a care in the world.

This one did the same we exchanged looks then he just trotted off down the road.

Then my cat came in.

Now knowing Fang my cat as i do if i was a fox i would not attempt to kill him because he would stick his claws straight into his nose.

Then i thought i wonder if other people think foxes kill cats.

So doing a little research it seems not.Maybe you know different.

But i really am not worried at all now after reading this article .

Main points being.

It’s possible but very unlikely. A typical urban fox home range can be also occupied by upwards of 100 cats, and most of these are out at night. Foxes and cats meet many times every night, and invariably ignore each other.

When a fight does break out, it’s often the fox that comes off worse in the encounter.

Article.

https://cat-behaviour-and-cat-grooming.com/2014/08/29/are-foxes-a-threat-to-cats-a-study-by-certified-cat-behaviourist-anita-kelsey/

79 (5 in 10,000 cats) confirmed and 130

(9 in 10,000 cats) suspected fox fights with cats from 145,808

VetCompass cats since Jan 1st 2010 until Feb 2013 (14 in 10,000 overall).

This compares with 541 per 10,000 for cats presented with cat bite injuries and 196 in 10,000 cats being presented following a road traffic accident.

Only found one and it was weak.

…

because the fox is an opportunist and would have preyed on something they considered weaker

(his cat, as well as being old, was completely deaf).

The natural prey of a fox is not a cat and in most cases a fox would not attempt to kill

In fact i am hearing that cats have chased foxes away from their property.

Cats takes on a fox

Cat vs Fox who will win?

After all that maybe the fox would need an ambulance.

It just so happens.

The Fox Project

Southern Wildlife Ambulance Network – Charity No. 1044928

http://foxproject.org.uk/

I actually like foxes, used to see them a lot where lived before, only seen one here and that was walking on the railway line, detest fox hunting, so cruel and barbaric

My wife used to feed a family of foxes at the back of our house, they would come and sit for about half an hour at almost the same time every night.

watchout for fleas though on your cat.

fox cubs are rife wit them..

my old cat now 13

played for years with each lot of cubs our local foxes had down south

got lots of video and photos

it got to the stage of several generations down

that the foxes learned to bat our cat flap to get fed.

Some nice stories coming out,enjoying reading them.

I remember seeing these first two videos a few years back so just rooted them out.

First one was a fox called Cropper.

He was injured and this chap looked after him.

Then when Cropper passed away he met another fine fox called Jack

But what is it like to live with a Fox.

I would think i would only be worried if i disturbed a Fox who had cubs very near by.

Under a shed a place like that.In the wild.

But no doubt they would soon let you know.

Our smallest cat weighs about 5kgs while the big one is almost 6kgs. I do not think a fox would stand much of a chance if they tried to tackle either cat.

When I lived in Kent, had a Goldie name of Sheba... one evening she appeared quite agitated in the back garden - pacing back and forward by a corner.. she wouldnt let us anywhere near to the corner and for the first time ever, showed her teeth to us... We did manage to encourage her away for a few moments to see what she was guarding. And there safely tucked away behind the bush were 3 fox cubs. We went back into the house and let Sheba continue her guarding, whilst watching her from the kitchen window. Not long after the Vixen arrived back through the hole in the back fence and one by one she carried off her young.

This happened a few nights running and we wondered whether the Vixen knew that Sheba would look after her cubs whilst she went off foraging for food. The same thing happened the following year. Just for a few nights and then no more.

A couple of years later Sheba passed away and we had just adopted another dog. We were sat in our dining room with the back door open and hubby said - keep very still and dont let Merlin (new dog) off your lap, try and turn your head to the back door... this I did and there was the Vixen, she looked around the kitchen as though looking for Sheba, noticed she wasnt there and just took off - we never saw her again. I wonder if she knew her baby sitter had gone forever.

TO, why are you feeding your cat tuna at 2.30 am in the morning !!

What choice do i have.My cat is similar to this one.He knows how to get round me.How can i refuse.

Cat asks for food by pointing at his bowl.

That is very funny, TO. Did you see the one following it, the kitten that was protecting his dish

I live in a small town in the countryside and we never see foxes. Urban foxes and rural foxes are the same but different. I regularly hear the cries of fox cubs in the small wooded area at the back of my home but I have lived in this area for 6 years now and nothing. No sightings except for the ones at the side of the road killed by cars. Occasionally I hear the sound of shotguns. Not sure if it is a hunt or just people on a shoot to lear the land of vermin.

I have seen plenty of deer including a pair of white stags and the odd muntjac around. There was one three legged muntjac that thrived for many years.

I hear owls every night, Not sure if it is a TawnyOwl or not and of course the bloody squirrels (grey not red) I also have blackbirds, rooks and ravens nesting in the trees. Every night they come home to roost, have a chat then as soon as the light goes, they shut up but until then we have about an hour of unmitigated noise.

Occasionally

I hear the sound of shotguns. Not sure if it is a hunt or just people on a shoot to lear the land of vermin.

Investigation time silverfox:wink:a apt name for such a thread.I would be out with my deerstalker and binoculars and camouflage to see who is shooting from a safe distance of course.

 

I have seen plenty of deer including a pair of white stags and the odd muntjac around. There was one three legged muntjac that thrived for many years.

I hear owls every night, Not sure if it is a TawnyOwl or not and of course the bloody squirrels (grey not red) I also have blackbirds, rooks and ravens nesting in the trees. Every night they come home to roost, have a chat then as soon as the light goes, they shut up but until then we have about an hour of unmitigated noise.

Lucky to live in the countryside,just reminded me i had a close encounter the other day with a Grey Heron been trying for ages to get close to one.

Examined it carefully they have orange eyes.And a fine set of legs.

Really checked it out.I shall put the video on in a while.Also was filming one for hours,they hardly move them all of a sudden off they dive after a fish.

While filming a crow attacked the Heron or tried to as well.A right old argument developed.

Going to make one out of Driftwood,i made one called Henry but someone bought it,drat .

Really enjoying these stories arriving about foxes,nature peoples experiences brightens the day.

People should write them down so they remember ,share them with others.Fascinating tales of the unexpected.