Foxes are not generally known to eat cats, but there have been several instances where foxes have attacked and killed small cats. However, the number of reported attacks is relatively low, at least when compared to that of attacks on other species. One theory for this phenomenon is that foxes are wary of small cats because they are more likely to be predators themselves. Another theory suggests that foxes may mistake kittens for rabbits or mice.
Domestic golden fox in conflict with domestic cat in enclosure. Selective focus.Some claim that foxes do eat cats and it goes against their nature to attack or kill other small animals. Foxes may feed on this unusual diet while they are searching for extra food during the winter months when food becomes scarce due to snow cover or scarcity of prey species in rural areas. In areas where foxes have access to humans, they may turn their attention from small prey animals to pets that stray into backyards. Many owners of cats in urban and suburban settings do not feel safe when the cat goes outside in a public place because it is at risk of being attacked by a fox.
Are Foxes a Danger to Cats?
Foxes are opportunistic predators, meaning they may consume whatever prey species happens to be available. Foxes throughout North America do not typically target domestic cats. A research study showed that foxes are likely to prey on domestic cats in regions where natural prey is scarce. Foxes almost never occur as the primary predator of housecats, but they do exploit cat-like behavior to increase their chances of finding a free meal. For example, if there is a spike of bird activity, foxes can spy small cats that are out feeding on birds or rodents. If housecats approach the opportunity to hunt for prey in search of an easy meal, then foxes may actively stalk them and take advantage when they strike preemptively at their intended target instead.
Do Foxes and Cats get Along?
Some animals get along better than others, and some animals do not even share the same living space. As a result, there are many misconceptions about how these different animals would interact. Studies show that foxes and cats can co-exist peacefully in the same household as long as they recognize their differences. As a matter of fact, one study, in particular, shows that not only can these two species co-exist together on the same property but also that both are unlikely to end up fighting or even noticing each other’s presence at all!
Does a Fox Eat a Cat?
Foxes do not actually eat cats, although some foxes hunt and kill small feral / stray cats. But these are very unlikely to be kills by the same species of individual animals who may well prey on wildlife in human-altered environments. Most reports of foxes killing domestic cats come from pouncing on and biting off a cat’s tail, trying to chase the fallen animal down. Overall, it is almost certain that most cat-fox interactions occur by near misses. Most evidence suggests that the fox scents the cat and raises its hackles before pouncing too close to check out what’s up. The scent of cats would make a fox wary but not hostile toward them.
Do Foxes Hunt Cats?
The answer is no. A fox will not hunt or eat stray cats, but some foxes may prey on cats if they are feral. However, foxes scavenge for carrion and other kills. There are also records of individual wild animals attacking feral cats if they come across them in dangerous situations (such as encroaching upon their territory). Fox activity seems to be the key factor behind this behavior though. A fox would not likely kill an adult cat, especially if left on its own. Foxes more often prey upon young cats (under 3 months) and kittens (less than 6–8 weeks). Cats are no threat to a healthy wild animal so it is unlikely that they would attack or chase foxes away.
Foxes and Their Dangers
The fox is sometimes seen as a trickster and as a cunning creature. It has been the symbol of deceit, cunningness, and slyness since ancient times. They have been hunted for centuries because many people view them as being vicious killers. Sometimes they are seen as a domestic animal that is not safe for children. They have been attacked while eating small animals and birds in the daytime but they are mainly nocturnal creatures who hunt at night. Some people believe that their attack on houses denotes a bad omen.
The problem with all of these perceptions is that foxes are actually endangered or even extinct in many areas due to hunting. The western mountain lion, the eastern wolf and the coyote have already become rare because people hunt them down for their fur etc. Fox numbers are also reported downwardly as fox populations in some countries are either decreasing or moving in towards cities.
Food Difference Between Foxes and Cats
While foxes can seem to be ferocious, they are in fact less aggressive than the average dog. Foxes affected by general harmlessness tend towards stalking prey during daylight hours only and avoiding meeting people beyond this point completely (even though some cases of murders have been reported).
There is one difference between foxes and cats concerning a normal diet. Cats primarily eat birds, mice, fish or other small animals while the main food for a fox is rodents because these mammals are fairly common in nearly any area. Even if they can get different types of meat from cat populations it would be difficult to find enough to feed their large bodies, which are quite weak in the stomach.
Just like living without food for a while would make people hungry, getting fed can be very important for foxes especially because cats and dogs monitor what they eat and this makes them feel confident so that they can be more conservatively dangerous during day time.
The most active of cats are usually very skilled hunters whereas foxes have an easier time snatching prey food because they are the most common land carnivore in many regions so there is a success rate with foxes being able to catch their own meals.
