Bold Urban Fox

fredalonghurst · #1 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 03:10 PM

Hello
I've just joined today and would welcome some advice.
For the past few years urban foxes have co-existed happily with our four cats however during the past few weeks the garden is being stalked by a fox which is chasing them. Our 19 year old cat who cannot move very fast has received a lacerated leg and lost the tip of his tail. One of the others came clattering through the catflap the other evening and when we looked out the door the fox was on the patio with it's nose inches away from the cat flap. This is usually happening at dusk or later so we have been keeping our animals in when it gets dark (they are always in overnight) - but about 3pm today we were sitting in the garden when the fox came out from behind our shed and jumped over the fence. I've always been relaxed if I have surprised a fox in the garden and I don't want to harm it but the current situation is worrying as I don't want our pets to be harmed either. My feeling has always been that foxes won't attack or kill cats unless they are desperate and this one looks in good condition but it is so bold I don't know what to next. Any ideas please?
Freda

Moocher · #2 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 03:30 PM

Why don’t you keep your cats indoors during the evening and night time? Cats are real predators and are responsible for huge numbers of wildlife casualties! Small mammals, birds and reptiles perish in their thousands, suffering in the paws and jaws of the domestic moggies. Sorry not got much sympathy for your cats!!

Cowgirl · #3 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 04:26 PM

Moocher if you'd bothered to read the thread instead of going off on a rant you would see that freda does keep her cat in on an evening & night. This is not a site for people to just have a go at others. As a wise man once said "If you haven't got anything useful to say, say nothing!"

Freda please don't take Moocher as a typical Wabber, there are lots of people on here who have cats & although the isse does cause some people to knock heads through the fence on occaision, the benefits out weigh the bad. Although I am not a cat fan I do sympathise with you for your poor moggies. I'm sure someone with more experience of foxes can advise you, perhaps it conceives your cats as a threat and is trying to defend what it sees as it's territory. One thing though, is it a male or female? If female is there a chance it has a den with young in? If this is the case then I honestly don't know what to do either. If it's a male then again he may be defending the vixen with cubs, I think you need to do a bit of careful check around for signs of a den.

Sorry this is probably not much help, but I was a bit annoyed that as your first entry into WAB someone has chosen as their first post simply to have a go. I felt the need to show a friendly face. We all know the argument re cats but that was not the issue here. Keep us posted.

fredalonghurst · #4 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 08:35 PM

I wasn't actually looking for sympathy for my cats or indeed for myself. I came across this site this afternoon and was hoping for some intelligent replies form others who may have had the same experience and could share ideas.
Thanks for the response Cowgirl - as the problem has only arisen during the past 5/6 weeks we are thinking it's probably something to do with cubs. There isn't a den in our garden but a couple of years ago there was one in a garden about 6 houses along I don't know if foxes return to the same place or not. If that's the case hopefully it will pass in a few weeks.
Freda

Jaeviatrix · #5 (**permalink**) 12-04-2010, 09:11 AM

Hi Cowgirl.

How do the benefits outway the disadvantages? Moocher is absolutely right, cats are an invasive, alien predator, and they kill things during the day too, so I would add "don't let them out" to the list of reccomendations.
Jay

Cowgirl · #6 (**permalink**) 12-04-2010, 12:27 PM

My wrong wording, I was referring to the benefits of WAB site outweighing the occasional troll thread.

I ain't getting into an argument about cats either. That is a guaranteed troll attractor!

Gill Catton · #7 (**permalink**) 12-04-2010, 02:27 PM

Its a difficult one, I suspect that keeping them in at night is the best thing you can do other than fox proofing your garden (which can be done with electric fencing.

I'm only sorry I can't offer more helpful. but at least I have tried unlike others on this thread.

I second the statement if you can't say anything helpful say nothing. Keep your cat Vs wildlife debates for threads centered on that topic.

Most people on WAB are indeed friendlier

sumbody · #8 (**permalink**) 13-04-2010, 04:11 PM

Maybe you have a fox den nearby and maybe this fox is chasing your cats away as there are probably fox cubs recently born and he/she is protecting them - just as you suspect.

They sometimes dig their dens under sheds. We have them next door and they make their home in piles of twigs and under the thick vegetation also.

It is only temporary until the cubs are more able to fend for themselves I think.

Hope it all ends well as foxes and cats do co-exist quite well - I have both foxes and ferral cats living in the overgrown garden next door and the cat waits for the fox to finish eating before tucking in.

You might be best keeping your cats in for a bit as suggested especially the 19 year old (good age !)

Good luck

Brendyboo · #9 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010, 01:40 PM

hi, i'm a new member, and just wanted to share what i saw last weekend... we were sat in the carpark of Burger King about 5.30pm, when suddenly a fox came strolling across the front of the car, to eat some chips that someone had thrown down. Then it went and sat in the bushes at the edge of the carpark obviously waiting for more food, when a cat strolled by, and we expected to see some kind of fight, but they just looked and each other for a few moments, and the cat walked away. we were gob smacked to say the least, i even managed to take some pics of it with my phone although they are quite dark. nature never ceases to amaze me

Brocakat · #10 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010, 03:44 PM

Most of the time I believe that the urban fox & urban cat rub-along together , with each giving the other a bit of distance/ respect. However the scales can tip one way or t'other depending on local circumstances. I'd suggest cubbing-time is to be one of those times - when there is a relative shortage of ( the best kind ) of food for cubs?

Your poor old boy of 19 deserves a bit more protection nowadays .

BTW Freda, as 'sumbody' suggested - did you investigate UNDER your shed - there could (have) be(en) a den there.