Grey Foxes -should I be concerned? - Ask Extension
We live in an urban area. We have several grey foxes (and recently a new litter) that frequent our yard. We have seen a significant decrease in rodent...
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Grey Foxes -should I be concerned? #876378
Asked July 08, 2024, 4:08 PM EDT
We live in an urban area. We have several grey foxes (and recently a new litter) that frequent our yard. We have seen a significant decrease in rodents this summer. Two of our four year old, healthy, male cats have gone missing within a week of one another. Could foxes have gotten them?
Benton County Oregon
Expert Response
Grey foxes are excellent hunters and omnivorous foragers, and likely, especially with a litter to support, helping reduce your local rodent population. The grey fox is the most urban-adaptable fox species we have, and they're unique in also being very good climbers - which often comes as a surprise to folks. Grey foxes certainly could prey on a cat, and/but also realize that having young will heighten the parents' lookout for prospective dangers and competitors to their offspring. So there are multiple avenues by which cats (carnivores) could come into conflict with foxes - either as prey or as competitors/perceived as prospective dangers to the young kits.
Our domestic cats are non-native, invasive, and unfortunately highly-damaging to native ecosystems, directly through predation (whether they're fed or not), indirectly through simply being a predator and reducing habitat quality and use for prospective prey species, and also less-heralded, through diminishing reproduction by native species via toxoplasmosis and other parasite & disease-causing organisms not native to the system.
As a cat lover myself, I know how much cats love being outdoors. However, containment in catios and other similar structures is far, far safer for both cats and the natural system.
So to answer your question of concern: Although the foxes could be involved in your cats' disappearances, there are many other wild (think great horned owls, coyotes, dispersing cougars, and even deer protecting fawns, etc., etc.) and domestic animals and cars and I hate to say it - people - who could have taken your cats. The American Bird Conservancy has a set of links at their cats indoors page https://abcbirds.org/catio-solutions-cats/ to help explore indoor-outdoor options especially:
Our domestic cats are non-native, invasive, and unfortunately highly-damaging to native ecosystems, directly through predation (whether they're fed or not), indirectly through simply being a predator and reducing habitat quality and use for prospective prey species, and also less-heralded, through diminishing reproduction by native species via toxoplasmosis and other parasite & disease-causing organisms not native to the system.
As a cat lover myself, I know how much cats love being outdoors. However, containment in catios and other similar structures is far, far safer for both cats and the natural system.
So to answer your question of concern: Although the foxes could be involved in your cats' disappearances, there are many other wild (think great horned owls, coyotes, dispersing cougars, and even deer protecting fawns, etc., etc.) and domestic animals and cars and I hate to say it - people - who could have taken your cats. The American Bird Conservancy has a set of links at their cats indoors page https://abcbirds.org/catio-solutions-cats/ to help explore indoor-outdoor options especially:
- FENCE CONVERSION: Turn your existing fence into a cat-safe fence. These straightforward options modify existing structures to create an escape-proof kingdom for your cat to explore. To learn more, visit: Cat Fence-In, Oscillot, ProtectaPet, Purrfect Fence.
- CATIOS & FREE-STANDING ENCLOSURES: A portable or permanent catio enclosure dedicates a safe and fun space for your cat to smell the fresh air and enjoy the sunshine. To learn more, visit: Cat Topia, Catio Spaces, CatNets, Habitat Haven, houzz, Purrfect Fence, Somerzby, Wild Whiskers.
Thank you for your response.
I stand corrected and will let my neighbors know (they're missing cats too). They thought the cats may be missing because the foxes and I didn't believe them. I didn't think about foxes being territorial, but it makes sense with young kits around. I no longer have cats, so containing them isn't a concern. So far they haven't messed with our chickens or quail in anyway. Our coops are very secure, but if foxes get in I suppose we'll figure something out.
On Mon, Jul 8, 2024 at 2:01 PM, Ask Extension<<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Please share my full answer/info with them, especially the broad number of potential risks to the cats, not just the foxes. Once the cats are outdoors, there are many potential hazards. Also, please encourage them to reach out to me if they have further questions.
Thank you again. I did share your full message with them.
On Wed, Jul 10, 2024 at 5:55 PM, Ask Extension<<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Fantastic - Thank you!
