The best way to prevent rural foxes, wild foxes, or urban foxes from attacking cats is to keep cats indoors.There are a lot of misinterpretations and misunderstandings of fox attacks on adult cats. Many fox attacks are not officially recorded but are anecdotal pieces of evidence.Foxes are omnivorous mammals that occur both in small and medium sizes. They are members of the Canidae family, along with dogs. The triangular ears of fox species stand upright on their skulls. They have a long tail that is bushy, and their snouts are slightly upturned. There are almost 25 extinct animal species that are believed to be foxes. Fox species are found all around the world but not in Antarctica. The most well-known fox species are red foxes, having around 47 subspecies. There are different sounds that foxes make to communicate with each other. Wild foxes generally live from one to three years. However, many have lived up to the age of 10 years! Foxes do not always form packs, like most canids. Some foxes are solitary, whereas others form small family groups. These omnivores feed on vertebrates, like birds and reptiles, as well as invertebrates and many other small animals. Foxes also feed on green vegetation and eggs if food sources are unavailable.Many fox species are endangered in their native habitats. Foxes are a risk from hunting to get rid of them or for fur trading, as well as loss of habitat. Though foxes are pests to most humans, foxes are sometimes used as a form of pest control on fruit farms, because they are effective and do not snack on the fruit themselves. Foxes are fairly well adapted to many human habitats, and most are even named ‘resident urban carnivores’ by some people. Even though they are active around dusk and dawn, fox species can get on the roof of any house or shed to bask in the sun in the morning. Foxes living in urban areas have fewer kits and live longer than wild foxes. Urban foxes have different behavior compared to wild fox species. Red foxes are extremely important in the fur trade. Red foxes’ fur is used to make coats, muff, jackets, and scarves in some places. The most valuable fur tends to be taken from red foxes that are native to North America, notably of northern Alaska.If you enjoy reading these facts about do foxes eat cats, then make sure to read some more interesting facts about do foxes hibernate and do foxes bark here at Kidadl.How often do foxes kill cats?Cats are not the main food source of a fox. Urban foxes and healthy cats typically ignore each other.Foxes are wild animals that are forced to live in urban areas. Foxes are found in cities as well. Adult cats are too big for most fox species to hunt. So, foxes do not hunt cats. An adult fox can eat a variety of foods like eggs, vegetables, fruits, garbage, and other small mammals. A fox’s diet can also include corpses or carrion of dead animals like dead cats. This wild animal can often be seen on roads looking to feed on roadkill. It is believed that foxes eat cats that have been killed by cars. Foxes hunt chicks, small birds, small reptiles, and frogs, and if these urban foxes or rural foxes live near water bodies, then these foxes attack fishes and crabs. These foxes have learned to attack and kill newborn lambs and poultry animals. At night, foxes usually hunt rodents and rabbits. Foxes hoard their food by burying it, a behavior known as caching. This behavior can be seen in both a healthy adult wild fox and one in captivity. Foxes have a similar diet to feral cats. So, an urban fox that has been rescued is usually fed cat food.Foxes are often observed killing cats that are too old, too weak, or very small. Foxes eat cats that are smaller than them, like newborn kittens and small pets. Foxes will attack domestic dogs and cats that are less than 5 lb (2.2 kg). If adult foxes feel threatened, then they might end up attacking cats. Most of the documented instances show an adult cat chasing an urban fox off of its owners’ property or garden. A rabid fox will attack anything, so it might attack your cat too. It is vital to be updated on your cat’s rabies vaccination. It is not common for a fox to hunt cats in an urban environment, but it is possible. Feral kittens and small cats are more at risk of being attacked by these wild animals, especially if these cats are around a fox’s territory.Do foxes and cats get along?Foxes and cats are indifferent towards each other.An urban fox or rural fox might encounter way too many cats around their city range. However, a wild fox will come across fewer adult cats. Both a wild or urban fox and a domestic cat are not scared of each other. The average size of an adult cat is 18 in (46 cm), and the average size of the common fox species, the red fox, is 18-35 in (45-90 cm). A cat, unlike a fox, is a carnivore, feeding only on animals. A cat is of the Felidae family and a fox is of the Canidae family. However, foxes mostly hunt like cats and also have retractable claws. It is unpredictable how a cat might act around another cat or animal. Foxes and cats are quite indifferent towards each other. Most of the time, they will not want to attack the other. So, you can say that cats and foxes are neither friends nor enemies and pose no threat to each other. They just like to be left alone. Sometimes, foxes can feel intimidated by a cat’s presence. This indifference does not exist all of the time. Big fox species, like the gray fox or red fox, will sometimes consider cats as food, especially the ones that are small. Cats know how to behave in the presence of a fox. If cats see that a fox is trying to pursue them, then they will show off their sharp claws and chompers. This display drives away the fox most of the time. Although house cats can sometimes be tasty food to these wild animals, foxes can act extremely defensive around cats. This is also the reason why foxes stay away from dogs. A female fox can get aggressive towards cats if her kits are around. Wild cats do attack young and newborn kits.Although foxes and cats have similar behaviors, it is unlikely that they will get along. Foxes are not completely domesticated. However, some rescued foxes or pet foxes might get along with a cat in the same house, especially if they have grown up together. This way, both the fox and the cat are able to form a strong bond. However, you must always remember that foxes are just tamed and are still wild species. So, there is always the risk of foxes attacking cats in a domesticated environment. When a wild fox is rescued, it might be carrying a number of viruses or diseases, which can be fatal to house cats or pets. It is better to keep any kind of fox away from your house pets.How much of a danger are they?A fox will attack either old cats or newborn kittens and will usually ignore a healthy adult cat (domestic or feral cats).Usually, coming across a dead cat and foxes in the same area will be interpreted as an attack caused by the wild animal. However, this will not be true most of the time. Both roadkill and another cat are a threat to any cat’s life. This dead cat will be food to foxes. Foxes rarely pose much danger to house cats. However, foxes are known to chase behind cats like dogs do, but when cats show their teeth and claws, foxes usually back away. Kitties and old cats are the ones under most threat of fox attack as these animals are mostly weak and defenseless. Foxes have a wide range of vocalizations, and when they do come across cats, they might scream or screech. These screams might be fox calls. Foxes scream at the sight of cats as a warning or to communicate with other cats. Not all species of fox tend to attack cats, especially if they have abundant food sources. Urban foxes are comparatively less likely to attack cats. Cities are usually kept clean; hence, urban foxes fail to find food. This compels them to go after pet animals like small cats and dogs. An urban fox will kill a cat on average every five to six years. Rural foxes do not roam around looking for food like urban foxes; they are very shy. So, their main food sources are fruits and vegetables, and they do not often attack cats. Wild foxes are also similar to urban foxes. They will attack cats if they do not find enough food.Foxes and cats run into each other most nights and simply ignore each other, but there are a few instances where a fight can break out. In a fight between a fox and a cat, the fox might have the upper hand. Also, there are a lot more cats in urban settings than foxes. Cats are as territorial as foxes. A fight might break out due to this issue, and cats have a risk of getting bitten by a fox. VetCompass research states that 130 (nine out of 10,000 cats) are suspected of getting into fox fights, and 79 (five out of 10,000 cats) have been involved with confirmed cases of cat fights with foxes. Notably, 196 out of 10,000 cats get into road accidents, and 541 out of 10,000 cats get into fights with another cat. This means that cats are more likely to get injured or killed by cat fights and road accidents. It is better to keep your young kitties or old cats inside your house at night to avoid fights.How To Keep Your Cat SafeYou can keep your cat safe by keeping your cat indoors at night, building a safe cat enclosure, and deterring foxes by making little changes to your yard.Foxes are not only bad for your pets but also for your garden. They spread bad odor, can dig around, and possibly destroy garden plants. If your pets get bitten, then your pets are at risk of getting severe diseases and infections. Not only this, but your pets can get killed by foxes. To avoid such risks, you can follow a few steps to make sure both your garden and pets are safe. If you are aware that a fox roams around in your neighborhood, then make sure to cage your pet in a safe enclosure at night that has a solid floor (to restrict foxes from digging), weld-mesh front, and secure lock. Domestic cats are born predators; it is better to keep them indoors to avoid any chance of hunting. A survey shows that most domestic cats hunt wildlife like mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Cats also prey on pests and invasive creatures that are sometimes useful for wildlife. It also benefits your cat’s health as indoor cats live longer. Indoor cats will not get attacked by foxes or other animals. It is best to tie a collar with a GPS tracker onto your cat. Make sure to get rid of any food lying on the floor around your garden as it might attract foxes. Make sure to use fertilizers that are organic without bone, blood, or fish products in them to prevent foxes from digging into flowerbeds looking for carcasses.If you are sure about a fox family living under your shed, then you can use straw or rags soaked in detergent and place them near the entrance of the fox’s den, loosely blocking it. However, do not block the hole with bricks. If there are kits inside the den, then they will starve to death without their mother. You can do this for a few days until the rag stays in place, which means that the fox and her kits have moved out. You can then permanently block this hole. Make sure you have a strong fence that extends deep into the ground. This will prevent foxes from digging into your yard. Also, make sure there are no holes or gaps in the fence. Your lawn must be mowed; otherwise, foxes can hide in it. Like cats, foxes use urine and feces to mark territories. So, a fox trying to claim your yard will leave behind a strong smell. Make sure to clean it up immediately. Not only will it avoid infections but it also discourages the fox from returning. You can effectively get rid of foxes using your body language and voice. You can make loud noises, clap loudly, throw a ball, use a whistle, jump on the spot, walk or run firmly towards the fox, or wave your hands high. Foxes are scared of human beings and will usually run away instead of trying to attack you.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestion for ‘Do foxes eat cats?’, then why not take a look at ‘Do foxes attack humans?’ or ‘Sechuran fox facts’?
The best way to prevent rural foxes, wild foxes, or urban foxes from attacking cats is to keep cats indoors.
