Urban Fox Behavior
The behavior of the urban fox in this vid is fascinating. The animals are fairly well matched in size and it is hard to work out who would have the upper hand if things started to get aggressive. We see the fox behave very like a domestic dog. She repeatedly sniffs the cat’s butt and this is classic dog behavior. Dogs sniff each other’s butts as a form of greeting, to help with identification and to establish dominance. Foxes are not dogs but they are closely related. They both belong to the Canidae family but dogs belong to the Canis genus and most foxes belong to the Vulpes genus. Nevertheless, foxes do look like some domestic dog breeds. Urban foxes are scavengers and they are also carnivores so they would compete with domestic cats for scraps of food left around trash cans and in yards and gardens. Foxes also hunt small mammals and birds just like the domestic cat. They are found widely in urban areas in the Northern Hemisphere and are usually nocturnal so it is unusual to see one out during the day as we do in this footage. Owners who put out cat food for the neighborhood strays may find that it is actually eaten by a fox! The urban fox in Ireland is a red fox. Their slender legs, big bushy tail, red fur, and pointed ears and snout are instantly recognizable. On the whole, a fox is not a threat to a cat’s safety. Cats are equipped with sharp claws and teeth and plenty of attitude so most could defend themselves against a fox. This is clear in this video. The tabby is perfectly relaxed and happy to let the fox make a fool of herself whilst they play it super cool!
Next Up:
Are Foxes Nocturnal?Fox Habitat: Where Do Foxes Live?Grey Fox vs Red Fox: What Are The Differences?
