A fox can try, but it doesn’t always end happily for the fox. They smell food and go through an open door but it is freakish that a fox should attack someone. Please don't forget to raise FREE donations for National Fox Welfare Society when you shop the sales! Her fear was that many people misinterpret what they hear or see. Jul 29, 2016 #2 MeepBeep Songster. Fox caught in a snare? media enquiries for Anita Kelsey cat behaviourist, the Importance of climbing for indoor cats, Why is my cat is peeing outside of its litter box, How To Harness Train A Cat To Walk On A Lead. Foxes are quite similar in size to adult cats. to put fox attacks into context, other cats (x40 times) and cars (x14 times) appear to present much greater dangers to cats than foxes. most of the serious injuries we see on cats are due to territorial fighting between neighbouring cats. So urban foxes really do have a good varied diet. Fox attacks on dogs are rare because these animals try to evade conflict. We don’t have any data to corroborate any statement. Foxes do carry diseases and parasites much the same as other pests. Foxes may scavenge the remains of dead cats but actual evidence of them killing cats is extremely rare. Foxes are among the most amenable, least aggressive mammals you could share your environment with. The fear has led us to keep our pets in during the night in case of a fox attack. It a genuine concern of owners to harbor the fear of having their cat attacked by a fox. The cats watch the foxes when they’re in the garden. Their clinical research data showed that 9 in 10,000 cats were suspected, and just 5 in 10,000 cats were confirmed, to have been in fox fights. See our customer reviews on CheckATrade... We use cookies, for essential functionality and to track visits to our website. I have always thought that foxes will kill and mutilate cats if they are hungry or defending their cubs. Frank said: “The huge fox was spotted in Kent and it had been killing local cats, but this was an extreme case as most foxes weigh the same as a domestic cat. The fact is that the claims of people just do not add up to anything concrete,  they are anecdotal, subject to misunderstanding and also to the average person’s extremely low knowledge of wild animal behaviour. Do foxes live alone or in groups? We care for and rehabilitate injured and orphaned foxes at our wildlife centres. However, foxes will scavenge the remains of dead cats, but actual evidence of them killing cats is extremely rare. Foxes are predators and anything they can kill they will kill. are cats less stressed having examination at vets or home? © Anita Kelsey 2017-2018. Cats will generally behave defensively in the face of a threat, hissing, spitting, bushing up their fur and clawing and biting if threatened. Quote : “I’ve no evidence of fox hounds killing cats. Your cat has sharp claws and teeth. Foxes may kill cats, but cats will fight back in any way possible. This means that it can fight its own corner if a fox comes in for an attack. They are not much smaller than foxes, on average, and have more weapons to boot. [one_third valign=”top” animation=”none”], [two_third_last valign=”top” animation=”none”], Of course fox attacks can happen on the rare occasion and so cannot be entirely ruled out if we are to be realistic. [toggle title=”3: Do you see foxes on a regular basis in any of your clients’ gardens when you are there with the cat?” state=”off” style=”solid”]. Yes, cats have some ability to escape and some ability to defend themselves. Also, do NOT kill native wildlife to protect a domesticated animal that does not belong in the ecosystem in the first place. What do you wish to do? All Right Reserved Empire Pest Control Ltd. Fast, local and expert emergency 24 hour pest control in London, providing a professional, courteous and efficient service. 5 Years. I can only imagine the fox has found itself in a situation and it has become distressed and panicked. Well,  from a personal perspective, I’ve had three cats in recent years and all of them chased the foxes out of the garden if they spotted them! Find out what to do with an injured or sick fox or if you are concerned about a fox cub. But many fox cubs are killed each year by pet cats and dogs. However, they have been known to kill foxes if their normal food is scarce. [toggle title=”Why did your client think her cat was killed by a fox?” state=”off” style=”solid”]. The myth is probably much more that cats are NOT attacked by foxes than the opposite. Cats, however, are not easy prey. Scaring devices that emit ultra-sonic sound may be effective in the short term but foxes may become accustomed to the sound and lose their fear Usually both participants come off worse for wear, and rarely do the injuries prove fatal. Another reason I wanted to do some research was because of my own fears connected to a fox den that’s presently at the end of one of my clients’ gardens. Foxes coming into your garden is a common issue, especially in urban areas in the UK. Since 1993 it has also incorporated  a Wildlife Hospital. No. They are not much smaller than foxes, on average, and have more weapons to boot. If you compare the relatively small number of foxes in the UK, less than 300,000 , to the 7.8 million cats, then it is easy to understand that encounters between them are quite rare, and foxes killing cats even rarer. But one just attacked a baby in … Because a fight with a cat would see them pretty much equally matched, a fox will usually just ignore a cat without feeling the need to confront it. While some people count foxes as rather endearing, fox pest control may be a … How to deter cats All cats ar… Like lynxes, coyotes and jackals hunt the same food in the same areas as foxes, so they also cross paths … Leopards are one of the bigger cats that kill foxes, and although a fox might not be much of a meal it’s enough to continue the circle of life. They have excellent hearing and use a pouncing technique that allows them to kill the prey quickly. The last one I shot with my bow. They will watch you and your habits and learn when it is the safest to make an attack on your poultry. Cats may not be in as much danger of a fox attack as the papers would have us think. By Luke Salkeld for the Daily Mail Updated: 12:05 EST, 5 July 2010 A fox is a predator, yes. Adult cats are usually safe, but a fox may hunt and prey on kittens. 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