Cats & Foxes?

[DollyParsnip]

Hi all,

Have been letting my cats out for a while now however the last few days I've noticed they're really reluctant to leave the garden - I put it down to the weather and them not liking wet grass. They're also v jumpy in our garden, but again I put that down to the weather.

We have a derelict house behind our garden, separated by a thin alleyway. This morning I saw 2 beautiful foxes in the garden of the house, looking v comfortable in the sun! They are obviously a mating pair rather than siblings and look like they're moving in.

Should I keep letting my cats out? Am a bit worried that cats & foxes might be dodgy, especially if they're a pair and cubs are on the horizon? Any tips?

Thank you!

Generally speaking there is no problem. There have been stories of the occasional very aggressive fox that will attack adult cats, but it's very rare. It's not something I would worry about.

Excellent, thank you!

We are plagued by urban foxes. Most of the time they and the cats have worked out how to avoid each other. Especially as foxes often go to ground during the day and I keep the cats in at night. Occasionally I have seen the cats chasing a fox that is 3 times their size!

We have loads of urban foxes here as we have a large wood at the top of our road! I've never had cats before and have heard some awful friend-of-a-friend type stories that made me nervous .

The cats are out now, looking shifty! No sign of the foxes .

Loads of cats and foxes round here and as far as I know there's never been a problem

I have seen a fox chase my very large cat down to the house.

It didn't make me keep him in though.

The cats seem ok, very wary but still comfortable to be outside. I am now worried for my neighbour's chickens .

We only have a small garden and keep the door open so hopefully they'll have the sense to come inside if they feel threatened.

We had a cat fox face off in the garden the other night. A fox cub about the size of a cat got through a hole in the fence. He looked very friendly and playful but our two cats worked in tandem to see him off. Turned themselves into giant fluff balls and hissed at him. He then made the weirdest chicken type noises and scurried off. I felt a bit sorry for him.

I used to live in South London, where there were foxes galore. They used to sunbathe on my garage roof. I never had a problem between them and tiny old girl, who wasn't much bigger than a rabbit so wouldn't have been much of a danger to foxes. They just avoid each other without fuss in my experience. There were plenty of other cats in the street and to be honest they spent more time eying each other up, with the odd argument, rather than the foxes.
I did get foxes coming through the cat flap to steal cat food on occasion though!

Live in the countryside, we definitely have foxes in the garden. No problem.

In London, I think one of my cats had a todo with a fox and got an abscess - but I've no proof and it could just as easily been a fight with another cat. Certainly cat wasn't bothered about going outside (or the abscess TBH) and carried on doing it's cat thing.

Mine have only ever really been bothered by other cats.

Yep, we're SE London . There are loads of foxes around here - my Mum had one that would watch her get out of her car then jump onto the bonnet to get warm in the winter! I think this is the first year they're using the house behind us as a territory, which is surprising as it's pretty overgrown and secluded.

It's also my first year as Fussy Cat Owner .

Feeling a lot happier now, thank you all for your reassuring stories!