I am exaggerating by saying that this single photo of a fox snoozing in the sun next to a red tabby cat is proof that foxes don’t bother domestic cats. They may even be friends. It would not surprise if they were.
However, it supports what I have said for years based on personal experience that typically foxes in England simply aren’t bothered with domestic or stray cats. In truth they pretty much cohabit with cats probably because they regard each other as equals in terms of predator and danger. The situation may be different in other countries where the foxes may be larger and more aggressive.
In the UK, between foxes and cats there is competition for food sometimes albeit rarely and if that is the case the fox with take precedence over the cat and the cat will give way. But it’s normally a non-aggressive situation. The cat might complain but it’s all vocal.
Cats can even see off foxes as is evident in this little video I made many years ago of a fox peering through the cat flap and my large black cat lunging at him.
Below is a link to page showing the fox that my then cat was in conflict with – but never any fighting. Just noise from my cat. The fox was always silent and slightly bemused.
The two in the picture must be friends. In my area, foxes will come up to your door to try and catch a cat. We have one hanging around our carport hoping to get a chance to grab one of our cats. They are extremely unhappy with me for not letting them visit the yard.
Wow, I’d like to hear more about that. I don’t mind you arguing against me. It is good. Perhaps the American foxes are larger.
The one I saw leaving my carport looked taller than my 15-lb cat. He appeared to be larger than the one in the picture above. He left too quickly for me to get a really good look at him. He was grey-ish in color and also very long. He looked very able to grab a cat and win the fight.
A few years ago, we had a beautiful red fox. He never seemed to be a threat, although I didn’t take any chances. I mostly saw him at a distance from the house. The following year, someone in the area bragged about shooting a red fox and I never saw him again. I suppose they were the same fox. 🙁