Foxes and domestic cats

werdnal · #1 (**permalink**) 24-09-2007, 11:21 AM

We were watching TV quietly on Saturday when one of our cats came bursting through the cat flap in a h3ll of a state. He was physically unharmed but every hair on his body was standing upright, his eyes were like saucers and he didn't know where to run and hide. I immediately thought he may have been chased by a loose dog or something, so went out to investigate. We have a field infront of the house, and after checking around the garden, I shone the torch into the field, and picked out some huge reflecting eyes in the long grass. Instant panic - "Oh my god its a big cat!, quickly subsided when I worked out the perspective and decided it must have been a fox. It looked at me and I looked at it. Unfortunately my torch wasn't powerful enough to pick out the body shape, just these beautiful eyes. I made the "sucking" noise that is suppose to attract foxes and it actually took a few tentative steps towards me. After a few minutes, it must have caught a scent of something and started stalking through the grass, then pounced and quickly disappeared.

Having lived here for 15 years, and the cat being 14 years old, I'm sure he must have come across them before, as we know they breed locally every year. I have always thought cats and foxes "tolerate" each other. Our cat is no light-weight and has seen off the ocassional collie sized dog in the past. I guess the fox could be a youngster and maybe more interested in a chase and play, rather than doing him any harm. Incidentally, the cat is a very light ginger colour and almost looks like a fox himself at a distance!

Should we be concerned about any conflict between them?

Kerry · #2 (**permalink**) 24-09-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werdnal

Should we be concerned about any conflict between them?

I have often seen my cats in physical contact with the foxes in this area and it is usually the cat giving the fox a good slapping before the fox slinks off! As with any interaction of species there will always be the exception to the rule but in general there is no real conflict.

andy68 · #3 (**permalink**) 24-09-2007, 12:13 PM

One of our cats came in badly injured a few years ago, and the vet said he was pretty sure it was a fox that had attacked her. Fortunately she recovered fully, but is much more timid now and hardly ever leaves the garden.

Andy

thunder · #4 (**permalink**) 24-09-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy68

One of our cats came in badly injured a few years ago, and the vet said he was pretty sure it was a fox that had attacked her. Fortunately she recovered fully, but is much more timid now and hardly ever leaves the garden.

Andy

Only "pretty sure", not certain. And how would he differentiate between fox bites and dog bites? There are plenty of scroyles out there who would set their dogs on cats ( and probably plenty of dogs who would do it on their own.)

People like Stephen Harris who have studied foxes for ages say that in almost all interactions, the fox walks away. But, as Kerry says, there may always be exceptions. But I don't think you need worry, werdnal - your cat has got to fourteen. Maybe he saw one of those things that cats see from time to time.

henrya

Gill Catton · #5 (**permalink**) 24-09-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunder

Only "pretty sure", not certain. And how would he differentiate between fox bites and dog bites? There are plenty of scroyles out there who would set their dogs on cats ( and probably plenty of dogs who would do it on their own.)

People like Stephen Harris who have studied foxes for ages say that in almost all interactions, the fox walks away. But, as Kerry says, there may always be exceptions. But I don't think you need worry, werdnal - your cat has got to fourteen. Maybe he saw one of those things that cats see from time to time.

henrya

I think you're porbably spot on.

I love those moments, cat bursts off the sofa at light speed for no apparent reason, sometimes I think they're dreams cause them to instinctively run and all of a sudden they are awake. Sometimes they're already awake

clover green · #6 (**permalink**) 24-09-2007, 04:06 PM

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Should we be concerned about any conflict between them?[/quote]

Well, just a couple of months ago I heard that a neighbour of mine two cats were attacked by a fox!! One cat was so badly injured, it had to be put down, the other cat survived, due to a lot of TLC.
So, yes conflict can happen!

Kerry · #7 (**permalink**) 24-09-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clover green

Well, just a couple of months ago I heard that a neighbour of mine two cats were attacked by a fox!! One cat was so badly injured, it had to be put down, the other cat survived, due to a lot of TLC.
So, yes conflict can happen!

Did they actually see them being attacked by the fox? All the stories that I have come across with regards to foxes attacking cats, were assumptions and not from definite fact of someone having seen it happen. Unfortunately the fox gets blamed for many things that it just hasn't done.

Kerry

Ukwildlifeo · #8 (**permalink**) 24-09-2007, 04:47 PM

Wow i always thought the cats won. there was even that case in america where a cat chased a brown bear up a tree! I guess if the fox has cubs the cats asking for trouble....

clover green · #9 (**permalink**) 24-09-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerry

Did they actually see them being attacked by the fox? All the stories that I have come across with regards to foxes attacking cats, were assumptions and not from definite fact of someone having seen it happen. Unfortunately the fox gets blamed for many things that it just hasn't done.

Kerry

I can't say whether she did see this happen or not, as I was told this by another (different) neighbour! But I will try and find out more.
I know there are quite a lot of foxes living in the large access/alley way that runs along the back of our gardens and they visit every night, several times or more, often creating havoc!

paulchandler6 · #10 (**permalink**) 24-09-2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunder

Only "pretty sure", not certain. And how would he differentiate between fox bites and dog bites? There are plenty of scroyles out there who would set their dogs on cats ( and probably plenty of dogs who would do it on their own.)

People like Stephen Harris who have studied foxes for ages say that in almost all interactions, the fox walks away. But, as Kerry says, there may always be exceptions. But I don't think you need worry, werdnal - your cat has got to fourteen. Maybe he saw one of those things that cats see from time to time.

henrya

I have not heard of conflicts between Foxes and Cats either (although it may happen). We have the ocassional Fox visit the garden and have never had any problems with our cats, usually coming nose to nose with the Fox and the Fox will walk away. However Dogs can be a different matter. I know of a few neighbours who actively encourage their dogs to go after cats.
Also cat - cat fights can be quite injurous.

Paul