To worry fox in garden will eat my cat?

[FFSAnotherProblemToSolve]

Just moved into a new house this week. Rented.

We have had a massive fox in the garden most days just chilling on the lawn like he’s renting it too! I’ve been out banging pots and it runs off but keeps coming back!

The garden is surrounded by a tall thick hedge. There are a few gaps at the bottom that owner has tried to block up with netting but obviously foxes will get through if they want to. Can’t put a fence around it as don’t want the expense if we’re only here for a year.

We have not moved our cat over to this house yet as she’s very much an outside cat and has only known old house (she’s 7) which was at the end of a cul de sac, very quiet, no traffic and surrounded by woodland. Foxes are there too but couldn’t get in garden and she could jump on garden fence (can’t here). Cat is very skittish and jumpy and always has been since kittenhood but mostly spends most of the summer months totally outside as won’t sleep inside.

New house has cars going past and is more built up so we left her at old house (going over to feed) while we got organised moving with noise etc, and I’m going to bring her back tonight.

I intend to keep her in a quiet shed outside all set up with litter, bed etc and bring her into house for short spells to acclimatise. I’ve also got a tiny dog harness and lead (that’s going to be fun putting on!) so she can explore outside on it without us worrying she’ll dart off if spooked and won’t find her way back.

Just freaked out about fox in garden. AIBU to be?

I made DH pee in the garden several times but the darn fox isn’t bothered!

She hasn’t had a litter tray since about 6 months old and I’m not having one in the house now!

Why do people have cats if they aren’t willing to look after them? If you are moving house with a cat then you need to be prepared to have a litter tray indoors.

Sticking them in a shed for the several weeks needed isn’t a remotely fair option.

If the cat is semi feral, then a shed/out-building is a much kinder place to keep the cat than inside a house.

In general I agree that cat owners need to be willing to provide litter trays though.

The cat sleeps indoors in winter according to the OP though, so the shed is clearly about the litter tray rather than the cats wishes.

My parents have lots of foxes and outdoor cats on their road (leads onto woodland). They all coexist peacefully (the rabbits and birds aren't so lucky though)

Does the fox look healthy and glossy or mangy and hungry? If healthy looking I don't think iy would bother getting into a fight into a cat.

Cats can climb trees, foxes can't, so if she needs to escape, she can.

I'd firstly say, keep your cat indoors for the first 3 weeks, so she learns this is her new home. If she is semi-feral she should have good instincts, but you will need to provide some kind of higher escape area so she can get away quickly if need be. Any trees there? She needs a couple of things she can quickly climb to get out of harm's way.

If you are going to give her a shed to sleep in, etc, then put a catflap on it. Make sure it's a microchip activated one, so no other critter can get in (would be surprised if a fox could get in, but better safe than sorry).

When my DP and I moved to a new house after living 8 yrs rurally on a farm (we were still rural but more houses and more cats) we did take our 3 out on harnesses so they got the lay of the land. They didn't like it of course so that phase was over quite quickly! They were all around 8-10 yrs old so not stupid with respect to other animals. However we do have a lot of options for escape routes - jumping on top of the garage, shed, trees, etc.

If she is not used to traffic she will need some education in that realm, too.

My sister had a cat that was killed by a fox. I don't think it's common but it does happen. That's probably not what you wanted to hear but I wouldn't want you to be lulled into a false sense of security.

In 20 years of cats co-existing with foxes all that has happened is one abscess which was easily treated. And I can't be 100% it was the fault of a fox.

Given your cat is almost feral I'd let her crack on and live her life.

Foxes don't eat cats as much as dogs don't eat humans.
They may get in a fight as can any animal (humans included)
A cat is an animal which shouldn't be bubble wrapped.

A catio is a much safer way to give your cat access to the outdoors. Apart from the fox, the traffic is a big risk to her, especially if she isn’t used to it.

FWIW, I’ve had a lot more success winning over very timid cats once they are house cats. When the option to run off outdoors is there, their fear gets the better of them.

When you see your cat being used as a tug of war rope by two foxes your in no doubt how it died.

The foxes near us jump onto 6ft high fences then the conservatory up onto the higher kitchen roof and then the eves to get the birds. We've had them in the bedroom where my adult son sleeps and through the cat flap when we are in the house during the day.
They are full of mange with massive bald patches not the pretty things on TV

We have a fox den at the end of our garden (on neighbours side). For a few weeks this year when they had cubs, they (mum & dad we think) were v protective of their territory- screaming at the cats, chasing them out of our garden etc. One of my cats held her own, but the other got attacked. The foxes were brazen and did this while we were outside in the garden, a few feet away. We had to keep the cats in for a while. Foxes haven’t bothered the cats since they’ve been going back out again. We’ve only seen them passing by on the top of the shed.
Cats are now having turf wars with a big brute from a few houses down!

Poor cat, you have left her behind while you get straight after a move and now you are going to move her tonight and lock her in a shed! Poor thing has more worries than whether a fox will eat her ( they won’t, cats are faster and have claws)!

I would not have taken the flat because of the traffic let alone the fox.

I have recently moved house. Semi rural area next to woodland and river. I share a garden with neighbours my windows are level with the garden - my neighbour (s) will not stop feeding a large mangy fox. It sits level with my window and continually stares in waiting for food.

I have a tiny 7lb yorkie who is absolutely petrified by this. We also have a patio area which is fenced off but when the fox is around we have to close the door and close the blinds as my
wee dog gets so scared. I’ve asked the neighbour to please stop but he won’t. Says he’s been doing it for years, I also have two small grandchildren that I can’t let in the garden alone as the fox is not one bit deterred by humans. It also shits everywhere and has ruined the grass in front of me with its urine.

This has ruined my enjoyment of my new house. I have tried making noise etc but nothing works. I’m already planning on selling

The fox will not attack your cat. Honestly, they won’t. It’s very rare for a fox to attack a cat. Most pictures of foxes carrying off cats is actually a vixen carrying her own cubs

I have a story to tell about a fox and a cat
4 weeks ago my very elderly cat started making a strange noise outside, i opened the window to see what was wrong only to see her being carried off by a fox. Neighbours had been feeding the fox and it had got very bold
i screamed at the top of my voice and in a desperate bid to save her I jumped out the window.
luckily my neighbour heard me and ran after the fox shouting and made so much commotion the fox dropped the cat
i am now in a full leg cast and fairly immobile. The cat was ok after the incident but was pts 2 weeks ago as she was very elderly and her heart was giving out.
im glad we saved her but the aftermath has been awful.
I do not like foxes, this one is no longer an issue but others just come and take over the territory.

It may be rare but it does happen and by the time you've had to kick the fox it's too late... because people keep feeding them in urban areas there are too many of them they over populate get sick and are not scared by humans or noise.

There are a gazillion foxes near me (oh the wailing chorus every night). I've always had cats and never an issue.