A Foxy Interview

Someone who was just starting out asked these questions and I think these are a great start for you guys out there looking for a fox!

1. Do you think a fox would work with the fur-kids i currently have?

Foxes get along with almost any animal out there, except the bigger foxes might see the ferret as prey, for that I would recommend one of the two smaller foxes, a Swift or a Fennec.

1a. If so what kind of fox?

If you want a fox that was once described as a ferret on crack, the hyper Fennec might be for you. However, they do calm down and can be SUPER sweet! As always, it's good to find someone locally and meet whatever type of fox you want in person, but if that's not possible, read all about them. I personally would choose a Swift Fox, even though they are rare for the following reasons;

-They are one of 4 foxes that don't smell (Corsacs, which aren't available in the US, Gray foxes, Fennecs, and Swifts)

-They do not climb like the gray fox

-They aren't as tiny and fragile as the Fennec

-From what pet owners have reported, they seem to have the friendliest personalities, Fennecs are nice when they feel like it or for food.

-The few people I spoke to about Swift foxes had no problem litter training them - most foxes are impossible, you have to keep this in mind.

-They only get to be 5-7 pounds.

2. What kind of fox do you have?

I have fostered 2 Fennecs before and am adopting a baby fennec this May or June

2a. What are some pro's and cons?

I have an EXTENSIVE list on my Blog on my website, and interviews with fox breeders and owners, but here is my short personal list

Pros -

-They have such addicting personalities

-The tail wagging

-If you train them right, like my old Fennec, she NEVER bit out of being scared or angry, and she was 95% potty trained, but being an exotic, she had that 5% where if she was mad at you, she would purposely poop on one of your belongings

Cons -

-Almost all foxes are destructive when bored, it isn't too bad for Fennecs, because they were so tiny.

-Some have high pitched squeals, but I find this adorable.

-Most foxes refuse to be potty-trained

3. Did you adopt or buy from a breeder?

In the US, it's probably safest to buy from a breeder.

I also have questions you should ask a breeder and a breeder list on my website;

fennecfoxes.webs.com/breederquestionsfaq.htm

4. What do you feed your fox?

I personally fed my foxes Nutro Cat food as a base diet, then added fruits, veggies, and raw chicken and beef on a cycle. Cheerios were their favorite treats.

5. Good fox experiences? Bad ones?

Check out my blog;

http://fennecfoxes.webs.com/apps/blog/

6. Pictures?

hundreds of photos and a few videos on here;

http://fennecfoxes.webs.com/apps/photos/

7. Anything else you think might be good to know?

Just realize they are a lifetime commitment even if they aren't exactly how you thought them to be. Foxes make extremely amazing pets if you train them right. My foxes were SO much like toddlers, it was astounding. They say foxes are smarter than cats or dogs, and they are right.

Ellie would pout in the corner if she was mad, she would poop in your laundry most likely if you punished her for a bad behavior, but she also had so many good qualities. She got SO excited to see you after a break of being by herself. She would squeal with delight and wag her tail. I think for me the best part of a fox was how excited they got to see you. Ellie would wag her tail, squeal, run in circles around me, and bring me her favorite toys. She would roll on her back for a belly rub. And she loved to play rough and nibble. Some people thought her rough play was mean, but it was not. If she was angry her ears would go back and she would make an angry noise.

But I would recommend taking off of work for at least two weeks when you first adopt your fox to spend almost 24 hours with them. That's what I did with my old Fennec, and I even had a carrying backpack. And the more stuff (meeting new people, baths, nail trimmings, etc.) you expose them to as babies, the more accepting they will be of these things as adults.