I am a new member and presented a problem on the new members page. Which of course was a new member mistake. White fox told me to check out 2 websites here that were very helpful in understanding what is going on at my house. Both the Sitting Fox and Permuted Web sites were helpful.

The sounds on the Permuted site were especially helpful and confirmed what I thought might be happening. The sounds that I hear mostly from my foxes are territorial sounds and they are always directed towards my cats. Everyone thinks this is their house. The humans, cats, dogs & foxes. We are trying to share.

I find it humorous that people are trying to get closer to timid foxes. Mine are so bold I cannot scare them. They look right back at me when I stamp my foot and say "go" sometimes I get a little bark back. A quick short one.

If you know a way to scare a fox I would like some advice.

Thanks -- Sharona

I couldn't find any way to scare foxes but I did find something that is quite similar to your situation:

Quote:

1. Outdoor Pets If a fox feels threatened, it will chase a cat from its territory. However, foxes do not consider cats or dogs food, and will usually co-exist as equals. Please remember that unsupervised pets can become lost, trapped, hit by cars, wounded by strays, or suffer exposure from the weather. Solution: Foxes present little danger compared to other threats. Keep pets safely indoors at night. 2. Sounds at Night Foxes can produce an array of unique sounds. They can be startling at night, and are most often heard during the mating season in winter, or during territorial disputes. Solution: In most cases, the calls are brief, and should quiet down on their own.

I hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for visiting my site My suggestion...it might be an idea to see what is attracting them to your garden (do you feed your cats outside?) and remove it. If you are desperate (and I mean, seriously desperate!) to scare a fox away, there is always the garden hose! But, I would never do that to any animal unless I had a good reason. There are also plants you can buy which foxes don't like; "scaredy-cat plant" is supposed to be good.

However, I have to say that if your cats are roaming loose without supervision, the risk from foxes is very slight, but the risk from other factors is extremely high. Outdoor cats rarely live out their natural lives because cars, dogs, feline HIV, cat flu, thugs with guns, and other issues tend to claim them very young. No cat of mine will ever be willingly let loose in the neighbourhood again.

Ah, I just saw your other post about the ferals

Concerning the foxes being out and about during the day, that is quite normal (despite what many official sources say!) I see them active at all hours around here. They are certainly a loud species, and seem to have adopted your acreage.

You may like to check out the UK Mammal Society's

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advice sheet

Hi Everyone-

Thanks for your responses and your cautions. I do know that co-habiting with foxes and cats seems quite possible and noisy. Here are a few "facts" from my neck of the woods so to speak and I am VERY SURE of them as it applies to my particular situation. Please keep in mind this is over YEARS of observance.

1. Cats attract my foxes. I think it is territory. It may not be cat food per say, but I can tell you they eat the same little critters.

2. I know it is the cats. My fox will stand just yards away from my cat and bark. Will immediately stop when I take cat in. Will not necessarily leave but will stop barking.

3. The bark is the EXACT territory scream posted on the website I mentioned before and I listened to them all carefully several times.

4. I have only recently adopted the feral cats and they live outside (hence the feral part). The foxes have been barking at my indoor/outdoor cat for years. The indoor/outdoor cat would need kitty therapy if I kept him in he is 9 yrs old and at one with nature. Very happy.

5. I have recently seen fox chased away by cat. Feeling good about everyone creating their own territory boundaries.

6. Just want a whistle or something to get foxes to be afraid of me. They have called my bluff and are just laughing at my "hand claps".

7. Lastly, I give up. I own 2 barking terriers, 1 huge Maine Coon cat, and I provide a territory for 2 feral cats and a beautiful fox couple. Clearly that let me live on their land.

Sharon