Foxes and cats ???

[Bicoastal]

I live in a large, heavily populated suburb so I don’t know if you want to classify my population as well-fed country foxes or hungry city foxes. And I’d bet the city foxes are better fed :winkgrin:. I see at least one fox a week. Maybe two winters ago, one dug a den under my shed. My neighbors have an outdoor cat, a big ole veteran, whose food attracts raccoons and probably the foxes. I often think about their interactions as I’ve never seen an altercation. I think a fox would find an adult cat way too risky.

Last winter, there was a sette on the side of a baseball field. Ours aren’t shy. I’ve witnessed one share a sidewalk with a businessman who just deboarded a bus. Business suit and briefcase with a fox about a yard in front, walked down to the corner together: the man proceed straight while the fox looked both ways and crossed the street.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=Pep ‘n’ Ann;8956498]
No experience with foxes, but birds of prey, owls, hawks, ect. will take out a cat given the chance.[/QUOTE]

Eh…maybe. Has not been my experience. Birds of prey might take out a kitten, but a full grown barn cat would be much less of a target than rabbits, mice, moles and pigeons.

My cats are in and out, all day/night and have never been bothered by birds, foxes or coyotes; and we have a very healthy bird of prey population of hawks and harriers with the occasional owl and eagle. The biggest issue we have ever had was a feral tom cat who fought with mine and caused a very expensive infection from a bite wound.

I would not worry about foxes attacking your cats for food, but of course I would want them up to date on vaccines.

[Pep_n_Ann]

[QUOTE=S1969;8960893]
Eh…maybe. Has not been my experience. Birds of prey might take out a kitten, but a full grown barn cat would be much less of a target than rabbits, mice, moles and pigeons.

My cats are in and out, all day/night and have never been bothered by birds, foxes or coyotes; and we have a very healthy bird of prey population of hawks and harriers with the occasional owl and eagle. The biggest issue we have ever had was a feral tom cat who fought with mine and caused a very expensive infection from a bite wound.

I would not worry about foxes attacking your cats for food, but of course I would want them up to date on vaccines.[/QUOTE]

I had a cat as a teen that was attacked by a bird of pray. This was a full grown male cat. He came in with deep scratches around his rib cage and a broken skull. He survived, but just barley.

[pezk]

For those with dogs, NH Fish and game is warning dog owners that canine distemper is traveling thru the fox pop killing foxes. Make sure the dogs are vaccinated against distemper and rabies.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=Pep ‘n’ Ann;8961090]
I had a cat as a teen that was attacked by a bird of pray. This was a full grown male cat. He came in with deep scratches around his rib cage and a broken skull. He survived, but just barley.[/QUOTE]

Sure, I believe it can happen. I just don’t think it’s extremely common for full grown cats, so I wouldn’t worry about birds as much as other health concerns - cars, other cats, rat poison, etc.

When my puppy was only 8 weeks I watched him carefully when out in the back 40 because I thought he probably looked like pretty easy prey for a bird. If I had small dogs in an outdoor kennel, I might put a top screen on it just in case.