Cats and foxes
 

OK this maybe a dumb question as I feel I should know the answer, but here goes.

I have two cats and just recently they have made a new friend... a young fox.

It occurred to me today that I have no idea whether or not foxes are a danger to cats and when said cub grows up is he likely to attack either of my cats?

So does anyone know the answer to that?

When I was a child my parents had cats and I often saw them sharing their food with a young fox from the same bowl. Our rabbit however did not fair so well.

I'm not sure about cats, but I understand it can go tits up with hounds. Name the fox Tod. :thumb:

I think putting the cats and foxes together sounds like a tasty meal..

Maybe just add some chillies ?

My understanding is that foxes do kill the odd cat, but maybe not if they already know said cat.

Depends on the cats - One of mine couldn't catch a cold, the other has taken on dogs, sparrowhawks, architecture, etc. and come of best most of the time. Just make sure they're insured as you'll end up picking up the pieces ;)

Foxes carry all sorts of nasties to pass onto your cats. dl

My moneys on the cat every time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6G09GBsDeM

I've been looking through you tube and found loads of cat vs fox vids, cat stands its ground everytime.

interesting thought. i have two cats as well and often wondered this. one of mine is a shy little cat but very quick and easily does over his big brother because he is so fast, mind you the bigger cat happily squares up to dogs and anything else and usually comes off best.

never seen foxes or anything round by us usually just hedgehogs and other cats or dogs. having said that they are bound to be there somewhere.

i think a cat with its claws and quick reactions can do a fair bit of damage to most things.

with regards to it being or good or bad about cats and foxes being together i have no idea. cats are territorial so not sure, foxes are scavengers and just go where the food is.

Foxes may be wild, but in comparison to dogs I would think they're smaller than a border collie? Would think the cat would have a 50/50 chance at least.

a fox would have to be starving to try it on with a cat, they know what damage a cat can do and once injured the fox cant hunt.

We've got a local family of foxes and a few cats round our way, they seem to get along fine and stay out of each others way.

Both are mobile sh*t droppers, if it was down to me, i'd be mining the garden to get rid of the b*ggers


Mart :D:D

We have whole streets in Edinburgh that have rubbish strewn about cos of the foxes getting into the bin bags! Surprisingly bold when you see 'em!

This is my understanding aswell. If there is an injured or very old cat, they might have a go, but otherwise its not worth the effort.

There are a couple of buzzards nesting in trees behind our house and they dont seem to bother with our cat either.

I'm not surprised, cats claws can do a fair bit of damage.

My sister used to have a dog that killed a couple of cats and did not give a stuff about anything the cat was doing while it was doing it.

Also never appeared to be injured.

I will add they were in her back garden at the time.

And my jack russells will go after my neighbours cats, but the cats are smart enough to run and not try to stand their ground fortunatley for them as the dogs would have them and foxes as well, but thats what they were bread to do so it's to be expected.

I do not advocate the killing of cats by the way, just giving my experience for those that think the cat would stand a chance against a fox that meant business.

I would also add that foxes are hunters not scavengers, although the new breed of town fox rarely hunt as there is an ample supply of food in bins and peoples back gardens from those that leave food out for them.

But real wild country foxes definatley hunt and i have seen them do it in pairs as well whilst out rabbiting.

Foxes aren't stupid and know a fellow predator and know that if they get injured it's possibly game over for them.

My old cat took a fair beating from what I suspect was a fox. Big bite mark on his back.

Foxes carry all sorts of nasties that cats aren't immune too. If they are OK together then they should be OK. It's more if they see an unkown fox thta things might get ugly.

Thanks for the replies people. Seems the cats and the fox are all happy toegther so I shan't worry. They were all outside on the drive again last night LOL. Will try and get some pics this weekend.

You heard them screaming yet?

Had never heard it before we moved to Bournemouth despite living in the countryside for years. Had a few friends over the first night we heard it, and honestly thought it sounded like a girl screaming... having a big field next to our place myself and the other bloke ran out into the field with flashlights :brickwall