Our cat likes to go out at night but i was awoken last night to a horrible baby crying like noise which I guess was a fox.

So I went down to try and get the cat in but no sign of him. About an hour later I heard the same then an awful scream from the cat and then him scurrying away.

I managed to find him but he was clearly petrified. Is the fox just trying to scare it or if he's really hungry will he go for it? I'm concerned about putting him out again at night

Well i dont want to alarm you..but yes a fox could/would kill a cat our next door neighbours was killled by one last autumn.tho she was a very old unwell cat not sure a younger fitter one would have been so unlucky.

Our neighbours have seen foxes stalking cats in their garden and I suspect that a fox has killed at least one of my cats.

Foxes don't generally bother healthy adults cats but I wouldn't rule out kittens or sick or elderly cats if the foxes were hungry.

A fox took on my female cat when she was about 4 months old-
the fox lost.
As a rule a fox will always lose against a healthy cat and there are usually easier pickings for them to have that won't fight back.

If it would like to try it on with mine, he says 'come on if you think your'e 'ard enough'. He's a 8.5 kg maine coon.

I caught them stalking my dog when he was very old and weary.

They have a good sense for animals not well able to defend themselves - as do all wild predators.

My cat chases them out of the garden. She walks toward them sideways with her back arched and ears back - spitting, hissing and letting out all sorts of yowling and growling noises. They jump the fence and leg it.

Wild animal v domesticated animal, that would be a yes.

It's unusual in urban areas - I've watched my own cats more than once facing down urban foxes at dusk in the field behind our own house (we lived in a city but near an urban park - so the foxes round there were uber fat and well fed). The fox has walked off, every time and not even chased the cats.

In rural areas - they'd eat a scabby horse.

I dont want to sound to bad,but a man who was doing a job in my house last month, told me a fox bit his cats head off.I have three older cats,only two go out im a bit worried for them.

Excellent my NFC would do the same.

A fox killed my previous ginger and white cat. He suffered severe internal injuries, and died at the vets. I was absolutely gutted. I know it was a fox (as opposed to a car) because I had seen one roaming in the garden a few days before the incident, and there was foxes poop everywhere round the side of my house and on the patio.

We have a fox family living in the garden and they are very wary of our adult cats. Whenever we have witnessed an encounter, the fox backs off very quickly. The cats don't seem bothered but I have heard of weaker cats been attacked.

My cat regularly used to chase foxes off when she was alive...

Foxes will rarely risk confrontation with a cat.

Wasn't there a case in London a few months ago where a fox entered a house through an open patio door and attacked a child?

No foxes in my area but I have a large and very fit 4 year old male cat who would probably batter a fox if challenged!
Last edited by Mike_1101 : 27-01-2011 at 20:02

Ditto,my ginger tom.

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1296159424

I think it would be safer to put a litter tray down at night, and shut your cat inside. Once the fox knows your cat is out regularly, it could well have another go at it.

A larger percentage of cats get injured or go missing at night.

I have several birds of prey in the garden including a European Eagle Owl so the foxes will keep at bay. Also if you have a dog they tend to stay away too.

The tried and trusted solution for several millenia to deter vermin has been cats, as they are very efficient killers (they have to be as they are pure carnivores so other animals are their only natural food source) and they don't eat grain or other food stores they are guarding.

A good ratter won't just keep rats away, but foxes and anything else which it might eat as well.

Hi I don't wish to add to your sadness. I must however question your logic.

What you are describing is purely circumstantial.

I would question a foxes ability to inflict "severe internal injuries". Surely a fox would leave clearly visible external injuries I.E. bite marks.

Just because you know foxes were around, doesn't automatically discount the (far more likely) explanation that a car (or a human) caused the injuries.

Do you have any more details as to how a fox may have caused (only) internal injuries?

As many have said;

A very young, very old, ill or injured cat may well come off worse against an aggressive fox but in general a cat holds most of the cards.

A fox will rarely wish to take on a predator such as a cat - the cat is faster, is better equipped for fights with fast reflexes, claws and agility and, if necessary can jump or climb to an escape.

Remember, what is cute and cuddly to us is actually one of the most highly evolved hunting and killing machines with a physical prowess pretty much unmatched in the animal kingdom - a healthy cat has no worries!

Absolutely true although a friend of mine has a cat that likes a good portion of scrambled eggs for breakfasts, as well as other unlikely treats.

Yes, definately..a friend of mine's Jack Russell puppy was killed by a fox last year....horrible...

This fox was killed because it probably killed a cat.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonli...ox_killed.aspx

This is a fox that tried to have a go at a badger cub in my garden.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6YSEBJYEGE

1 on 1 if it came down to the crunch a fox will beat a cat, either forcing a retreat or killing it.

A cat's only saving grace is that the fox would prefer an easier food source and being a wild predator it would prefer not be in a situation where it would suffer any injuries in killing it's prey - so being at a disadvantage in the further search for food.

This situation skews the real perception imo, where human sightings are nearly always in the urban areas, where foxes generally have good food sources and so there's not much point in taking out a cat and possibly getting an injury.

In rural areas there's fewer humans to see any fights, far fewer domesticated cats and probably fewer foxes per square mile.

7 or 8 times out of ten I'd think a hungry healthy fox will take a cornered healthy domesticated cat.