This can lead to behavioural problems down the line, says Dr Ros. Again, not really. Rearing them domestically can mess with their temperment Dr. Ros says. They might start out cute and cuddly but they may become aggressive - probably not toward the owner but towards other people. Foxes are super active. In zoos, keepers hide their food and they build things for them to destroy so they can find the food inside. This is not, Ros is keen to stress, a similar situation to your cat where you leave some wet food out in the morning and head off to work.
Behavioural issues can become common she warns. Foxes are very high energy and they require a great deal of space for running, foraging, digging and playing.
They love to chase things, so another of our games is to just throw things for him to try to catch out of the air or pounce on. They need to constantly mark their territories and will rip and shred belongings, particularly soft furnishings. Two more couches suffered the same fate before Winchester got his outdoor enclosure. Foxes also have more complex food needs than cats or dogs. They need to be stimulated through the feeding process and be given an opportunity to forage for their food.
This could mean hiding food for them to find or even building something that the fox needs to rip apart in get to their meal. They require lots of fresh meat in the form of small rodents like rabbits and mice, and their diets must include an adequate amount of taurine, without which they can develop blindness, suffer seizures or die. If you're considering getting a pet fox, an outdoor enclosure is absolutely necessary. On top of this, fox urine is incredibly smelly -- much worse than dog or cat urine.
Some say it resembles the smell of a skunk when it sprays. Plus, it's virtually impossible to wash out of carpet, fabric, furniture, etc. Most mammals mark their territory with urine, and this can't be "trained out of them. Foxes need to eat a lot of fresh meat, such as rabbits and mice. In addition, it is crucial that a fox's diet includes a good amount of taurine.
If they don't get it, they can go blind, have seizures or even die. Good sources of taurine include chicken hearts, livers and gizzards.
In addition to these complex food requirements, foxes must be stimulated through the feeding process. Fox owners can't simply give their fox some food and leave them to eat it. Foxes have an inherent need to forage for their food. This means that fox owners need to hide their food and let them find it or put the food in something that the fox can rip apart to find their meal.
Fennec foxes are very small, cute and communicative, which is a main reason that they're very popular with fox owners. Red foxes are more reserved but can also be housepets. Other larger fox types definitely need much more time and housing outside, which means they typically can't become pets. Foxes are crepuscular, which means that they are most active during the twilight hours, in the evening and at night.
If they don't have an outlet for their high energy at that time, they typically destroy anything in sight. Because foxes are wild animals and they have very specific needs, regular veterinarians typically can't treat foxes. Instead, foxes must see a veterinary specialist when they need medical attention.
Foxes can be spayed and neutered just like dogs and cats. Veterinarians recommend having this done at six months of age. It's very important not to bring your pet fox out in public. If you do and it bites someone, that person can report it. When that happens, the fox is euthanized so it can be tested for rabies.
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