Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Birds vs. cats - a victory
My next-door neighbours have moved out, taking their two cats, and for the first time since I've lived here my garden is a-flutter with birds, taking advantage of all my plants with berries. The mahonia, in particular, is a canteen for robin, blackbird, sparrow and something called a "black cap" which is not usually seen in gardens, apparently. Long may it last!
Tags for Forum Posts: foxes
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lucy Fielding on
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Hi Neil,
I'm assuming you have evidence that the fox killed the cat? Was it a kitten, elderly or impaired cat already? Was the fox protecting cubs from the cat? Did you actually see the fight between a cat and fox or is this just hearsay or did you just hear them fighting?
I think it's important to keep things in porportion. Studies show that it is extremely unusual for a fox to kill cats or other pets whereas attacks by dogs on cats and other pets happen on a daily basis. My own cats are chased and terrorised several times a day by dogs. I love dogs by the way - I'm just putting things into proportion. More cats are killed by motorcars than foxes so in theory does that mean we should ban all motorcars?!
Foxes are territorial so you will usually only get a small number in one area. Culling foxes would not work because as soon as you kill one fox another would move into it's territory so it would be an never ending and very expensive battle. That money would be better spent on providing facilities for children or the elderly in the area - or weekly rubbish collections?
Most people like having that contact with foxes who are a relatively harmless mammal.
There is always going to be someone somewhere who doesn't like a particular animal or bird. If we got rid of every creature that someone didn't like they'd be no other creatures left in the world. Probably not even us!
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As I said Neil, you need to keep things in proportion. Compared to dogs, cars, and humans, foxes are relatively harmless.
You may not like foxes but surveys show that most people do.
And why not support tigers, orangutans, rhinos and foxes. I do.
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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Am I being mean in thinking that the 'digging up my garden' bit is the important bit?
Be thankful you have no 'wild' boars (basically wild pigs) at the bottom of your garden (like we do)..
A garden, even an urban one, is a living space and it will never be a sterile place. Mice eat beetles and are then eaten by cats who are chased by foxes.. that's the way of the world.. and unfortunately foxes haven't yet been taught to read, so don't yet understand the 'keep off my property' signs.
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Actually no, DEFRA do not class foxes as vermin.
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I'm joining this discussion late, but just wanted to say that I have cats, foxes and birds in my garden. Probably less birds than there might be, because they keep away from the cats, and they in turn are wary of the foxes. I don't keep the cats in at night because they make a great fuss if I do, and obviously hate it.
I've lived in the area for 23 years, and the only problems we've had around here are people. A few years ago my friend and neighbour's cat was attacked, and came home with a broken jaw and burnt fur. The vet said it had been done deliberately - she found traces of lighter fuel in his fur. Fortunately he recovered well and is going strong, though not surprisingly keeps away from anyone except the family he lives with. It didn't happen at night, but in the middle of a sunny afternoon.
I'm sorry the cat was killed by a fox, I would be devastated if it happened to one of my two, but don't think getting rid of the foxes would help. Maybe we should feed the foxes, then they'd be less hungry for other animals? Since the introduction of wheelie bins their opportunities for scavenging food are greatly reduced.
Suzanna
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Blackcaps are not often seen in this area so it's great you have one in your garden. We had a pair in the garden last year so I'm hoping they will return.
A good deterrant for cats is to spray them with water. It doesn't harm someone's loved pet and will deter them from coming into the garden.
I have to say that it would be very unusual for a fox to eat a cat - unless it was a very young kitten or the cat was already injured. Foxes are at a disadvantage when it comes to cats because cats have retractable claws, and foxes will rarely risk being injured. Having said that if a cat was endangering a fox's cubs then the fox would defend them, likewise a cat would defend her kittens against a fox. The foxes in my area wait patiently for the local cats to feed before tucking in!
There was a story in the Hornsey Journal a year or so ago and the headline read: "Fox Savages Cat". The cat had been taken to my own local vets' for treatment and thankfully survived. However I decided to check this story out for myself with the vet who treated the cat. It turned out that they had no evidence whatsoever that it was a fox and I was told that it could just has well have been a dog. A fox had been seen in the area and so it was assumed that it must have been a fox. However as foxes scavenge then it could have been drawn to the already injured cat because it was easy prey. Unfortunately, the Hornsey Journal ran with the headline "Fox Savages Cat" and the damage was done!
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Permalink Reply by Kamila on
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I had a wild garden next door with fully grown trees and greenfinches, goldfinches and blackcaps nested in there so I got to identify all the baby fledglings on my birdfeeder using my iPhone bird app!!! Alas a developer bought the empty house and all those trees are gone.
I have heard about foxes attacking cats, especially kittens and cats that are ill. My vet says it's better to keep the cats in at night so I do. I have seen one of my cats staring off a fox which just slunk away! The press loves this sort of thing - do you remember the mother with the baby upstairs and the fox coming in and 'savaging' the baby. I thought it most unlikely!
My problem is the young cat that has moved in next door. My cat attacks it and comes off worst. But the boy 2 doors down lent me his very powerful water gun so hopefully I can use that whenever I see that cat!
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I use my water gun on my own cat...when she has her ears pricked for baby birds. Works a treat! And does her no harm. I for one am grateful for anything (well mostly anything) furry, feathered or otherwise that chooses to live/nest/crawl/pass through my little garden. Am very envious of the blackcap!
Keeping cats in at night in London seems a wise move to me, and I have always done so. Protects from cars as well as foxes. It must have been so traumatic to lose a cat to a fox, I can't imagine how awful that was. Unfortunately nature is as nature does...we can but work with it.
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Permalink Reply by Isabelle on
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Resident blackbird is actually the one scaring my cats away this year! Never seen anything like it! He must have a nest nearby and chirps aggressively the moment he sees the furrys, even has a go at me for stepping in the garden. He gets real close to us and even swoops down on the cats occasionally! which sends the cats running to shelter ;) – though I really hope he won't get too close too often..... I still haven't spotted where the nest is, I suspect the cats know. I love blackbirds and wish this one's chicks make it!
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