Fox is taking all the cats on my road, what can I do about that?
Posted by Different-Fan980@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 38 comments
There is a local fox that is taking cats I have seen it and I hear it every 2-3 nights taking the cats. I looked up rspca but they don’t seem very helpful about this
North-Employer-7588@reddit
I have a cat that had kittens in the garden fox took them all and cat did not even put up a fight very sad .
Gent415@reddit
What do you hear? If it's caterwauling or foxes barking, it's more likely that they are fighting amongst their own species or mating. Foxes and cats generally just avoid each other, even in urban areas. Almost all cases where foxes take cats are when the cat is already dead or seriously injured (usually after being hit by a car). Have any cats actually gone missing?
Different-Fan980@reddit (OP)
Yes they have and I have seen this fox with a cat in its mouth. What should i do?
Thestolenone@reddit
I've seen a fox pick up roadkill that was probably a cat (it was at a distance but the roadkill was too big for a rabbit). My old next door neighbour used to put food out the front for a fox and her cat would regularly see it off.
Gent415@reddit
Who's "they"? Have you only seen it carrying one cat? Are you sure it wasn't a fox cub? Your story is vague and exaggerated.
pullingteeths@reddit
Who on earth is letting their cats outside on their own at night knowing there's a fox going around killing cats?
Pedantichrist@reddit
I could likely keep two of my cats indoors, but the third? I’d not stand a chance.
Pedantichrist@reddit
To the person who wrote about shitty pet ownership and then blocked me, it is more that the cat never comes indoors except to eat at night, and then leaves again.
pullingteeths@reddit
If there's literally a fox outside killing cats? This is simply shitty pet ownership
JoeDaStudd@reddit
You've actually seen a fox kill and take cats?\ Are you sure they weren't moving their own cubs?
As has been mentioned foxes have plenty of food in an urban setting so they don't need to go after cats.
Different-Fan980@reddit (OP)
Yes i have seen it, i said ‘take the cats’ to make it sound less horrible but its killing the cats
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AF_II@reddit
Shit like this is why our wildlife is in trouble. Someone sees something they don't understand and immediately says UGH gross kill it, it's vermin blah blah blah.
You didn't see a fox "taking" cats. There's clearly a reason the rspca ignored you. But 1 or 2 people will see your disinformation and believe it. Great work. Slow clap.
Different-Fan980@reddit (OP)
I have SEEN it with a cat in its mouth. I just did not want to say it that way.
AF_II@reddit
Was the cat fighting or just hanging? Was it roadkill? Because there's simply no way a fox - especially at this time of year when it has cubs to get back to - is going to fight a live cat to the death.
100% if you saw anything you saw a fox carrying its cubs from one location to another. Please stop spreading this harmful myth.
Different-Fan980@reddit (OP)
Yes i have seen it, why are you upset about this more than anyone?
AF_II@reddit
Because it demonises foxes. All the studies have shown that what kills urban cats is nearly always drivers, foxes occasionally scavenge a dead or severely injured cats. I'd ask "why are you so upset that people are suggesting you might have made a mistake" but it's clear you're not interested in changing your mind. Bye.
Different-Fan980@reddit (OP)
Alright but calm down ok?
Carinwe_Lysa@reddit
That's quite surprising, usually they'll both try to avoid each other, but otherwise a healthy cat would 99/100 times win in a fight against one. Only chance a fox would have if it either outnumbers the cat, or if the cat is already in poor health or injured etc.
But chances are, you probably hear the foxes fighting or calling each other - you'd definitely recognise the sound as its godawful. Foxes would usually be after rodents, birds and such, there's no need to even attempt fighting cats as food would be everywhere for them.
FornyHucker22@reddit
Saw my cat cling to a foxes back as it ran of in a dispute over some kfc we left out for the fox 🫣
OldAnalyst5438@reddit
Buy him a pint?
2KCoinsLTD@reddit
What did you read this on Facebook, followed by;
"Cat Nappers" Hun! (Shared in South London)
grafeisen203@reddit
Are you sure you're not just hearing foxes or cats squabbling and/or mating? Both species have a tendency to scream bloody murder even during relatively mild altercations.
There's really not a lot you can do, other than keep your own cats indoors at night if you have any.
Top-Cat-a@reddit
I live in a semi rural area. I see (and hear) lots of foxes.
My cat (and those of the neighbours) are still alive and well. Foxes aren't going to take on cats or vice versa because of the high risk of injury.
halen2024@reddit
Have a word with a local pest controller, they will be able to advise better than Reddit. Good luck
WGD23@reddit
My cats would not stand for that shit
Jumpy-Jello-@reddit
It's spring, what you probably saw was them carrying their own cubs.
CurrentSandwich541@reddit
Are you sure about this?
Foxes almost never go after cats and if they do the cat usually wins.
If somehow this is actually happening not much you can do besides keeping your cats inside at night and informing your neighbours.
Master-Trick2850@reddit
how many cats do you have in your area for it to be that consistent? Or maybe its just cats being cats and yodeling
Victorius_Meldrus@reddit
You've actually witnessed it taking these cats, or you've seen the fox and believe you've heard it taking the cats?
Foxes are generally wary of cats, and in most confrontations the cat will come out on top as they're typically far more aggressive than foxes are.
It's not unheard of for foxes to prey on cats, but it's very rarely going to be a healthy adult cat. A rogue fox systematically picking off the neighbourhood moggies one by one sounds like the stuff of Facebook Neighbourhood Watch groups - no offence!
FellrunDan@reddit
There is no way that a fox it taking a at 2 or 3 times a week. What your probably hearing is either foxes disagreeing about territory or a cats squabbling But I would have to say you would have to be very unfortunate to hear this so regular
PrincessPK475@reddit
Foxes are normally scared of cats and in a 1:1 the cats will normally win the fight. It's a long perpetuating myth that they'll kill cats. Unless the cat is sick/old and the fox starving - which In an urban area is pretty unlikely.
You're likely hearing disagreements between foxes over territory this time of year. if you find them a nuisance, get a sprinkler system.
TremendousCustard@reddit
I've never heard of a fox doing this... wow
ceciem2100@reddit
Ideally people should keep their cats indoors overnight, that is what we always did (cat passed recently). If our cat was still outside and it was starting to get dark we just put our dog outside, she's small terrier and very effective deterrent.
Nirnroot_Enjoyer@reddit
A German shepherd is a quite effective deterrent, in my experience haha.
I've only ever seen a fox in my garden once...
Now I can't comment on how far of an area that deterrent would cover.. But the local cats have always seemed comfortable around our house, and still walk along the top of our fence, as they please. They're smart enough to know where my dog is confined.
minipainteruk@reddit
Unfortunately, it's nature. I'm not sure what you could do other than warn your neighbours.
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