Foxes.

There is a business park behind my house with a thick layer of trees and bushes in which live numerous creatures including foxes. I do feed them in winter and they come into the garden every evening. I also leave a dish of water out in summer. I dont feed in summer because creatures should hunt for themselves.

Re cats and foxes, a neighbour once told us that in the very early morning he’d seen our long-gone cat ‘stalking’ a fox around the front gardens.

For a cat he was a very big boy, though, and I don’t just mean portly, though he was that too, largely down to his habit of visiting neighbours and putting on his poor-little-orphan-kitten act - especially effective next door, where there were often choice morsels left over from their many dinner parties.

My neighbour has been feeding two foxes and they have now been joined by a stray cat so she's feeding him as well.

Canadiangran
Thank you for that. Let’s hope she doesn’t like showers 😄

Meryl, try looking up motion-activated sprinkler. I've seem people here with them to deter cats. I believe you can point the sprinkler towards the area you want to protect and it will shoot a spray of water when it detects motion. Of course you will have to keep in mind that that includes any motion, including yourself!

Urban foxes can be intimidating. I would never encourage them if I had young children or grandchildren. It’s not worth the risk.

My sons cat has recently been badly bitten on her tail by an aggressive fox which is living in their neighbours garden resulting in a rather large vets bill!
It has also attacked a couple of other cats and even looked like it would go for a toddler until her Father intervened!!
It really has been a problem for them, the neighbour involved has tried to get rid of it but it keeps coming back.
Unfortunately the cats involved are all either old or small females - I suppose it needs a big Tom cat or dog to scare it off.

Foxes do taunt dogs.

Interesting to watch, pointless exercise for restless dogs.

It was years ago, but hearing the dog barking frantically at something in the garden (French windows were closed) I looked out to see two foxes, actually sitting on our 5 foot back fence, in broad daylight - looking towards the dog and presumably going ‘Yah sucks boo, you can’t get us….’

If only I’d had a camera…..

I’d love to see a fox in my garden but I take the point that, as wild animals, they shouldn’t really be encouraged. My problem is feral pigeons, we’ve just taken delivery of two super soakers! Wouldn’t want to harm them but even a special cage which only the little birds can get into doesn’t deter them. Any suggestions gratefully received! Fortunately we only have red squirrels here and have done everything to encourage them but they shun our efforts.

Hellogirl
They’ll be around with all those ducks. My girl hides duck eggs in my pots.

grandtante
That idea could work but all our bungalows can only have fences no higher than 4’, plus, we all have security lighting 😱 and the neighbours have bi-fold doors which is their lounges.
That could turn dodgy 😟

Parsons terriers chase foxes out of gardens and enjoy the run!

No, MerylStreep, I don`t have a garden, just a backyard, but I do have a canal out front with lots of ducks and swans.

NanaDana

5beam2

I get foxes coming through my garden in the evening and I worry that they'll hurt my cat, has anyone had any experience of that?

It's possible that a Fox may see a Cat as prey, but most unlikely, plus in any encounter the Fox may well come off worst, as it lacks both the speed and the feline claws. However, the Fox remains an apex predator, and will go for chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs etc., plus pigeons and garden birds. On balance, I think your Cat is pretty safe.

Oh, I could do with one to catch the pigeons. They are a real pest and multiplying!

nanna8

They kill them here all the time and not in humane ways,either. Mostly poison.

And the dingoes and unfortunately dogs can eat the bait if it's left out too.

An old wives' tale here says that if you want rid of foxes you should get all the men in the household to wee at the perimeter fences.

If this works, and I have no certain knowledge that it does, I suspect it won't deter a vixen - probably encourage her.

We had a fox - I haven't heard her for ages, but I think she is still around, for something activates the motion sensor for the porch light in the evenings, after the cats are in. Never seen our fox/ vixen, but heard her bark.

If you really want rid of her, I recommend a dachshound.

5beam2

I get foxes coming through my garden in the evening and I worry that they'll hurt my cat, has anyone had any experience of that?

It's possible that a Fox may see a Cat as prey, but most unlikely, plus in any encounter the Fox may well come off worst, as it lacks both the speed and the feline claws. However, the Fox remains an apex predator, and will go for chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs etc., plus pigeons and garden birds. On balance, I think your Cat is pretty safe.

I get foxes coming through my garden in the evening and I worry that they'll hurt my cat, has anyone had any experience of that?

They kill them here all the time and not in humane ways,either. Mostly poison.

I’m envious MerylStreep I love to see the foxes but only very occasionally see one close up in the garden. It’s sad that so many seem to get hit by cars.

Residents in our road have had to put mesh around the bottom of their cars as foxes keep biting into the brake pipes! Apparently, the fluid contains something that attracts them. It’s cost one neighbour a small fortune in replacements, plus heaven knows what damage it does to the poor foxes.

I think probably the best answer is a half door and they're very attractive.. we also have foxes in our small adjoining city gardens but they just seem to bask on shed rooves. I haven't actually seen one in my garden..

We had a lovely healthy looking one in our garden yesterday but he kept his distance. Meanwhile some red kites were circling overhead eying our barbecue. Magnificent creatures!

Witzend

Afraid to say foxes are not very popular here at the moment, after slaughtering (not eating) 4 of dd’s ex battery rescue hens - some had arrived from their battery cages only a week previously. 😥

They had dug 3 holes in order to get into their supposedly secure run. Dd has previously had rescue chickens for 3 or 4 years with no problem, but once the foxes know they’re there, they’ll always be back.

Don't leave rabbits or guinea pigs outside either if there are foxes around, foxes have been known to push up the catches on cages or dig under runs to get to the children's pets.

Afraid to say foxes are not very popular here at the moment, after slaughtering (not eating) 4 of dd’s ex battery rescue hens - some had arrived from their battery cages only a week previously. 😥

They had dug 3 holes in order to get into their supposedly secure run. Dd has previously had rescue chickens for 3 or 4 years with no problem, but once the foxes know they’re there, they’ll always be back.