Skip to Content

Fox As A Pet: 11 Things You Must Know (with Pictures)

Fox As A Pet: 11 Things You Must Know (with Pictures)

Does Fox Make Good Pets?

The clear answer is no. There are many peoples out there who claim that they can be domesticated and it’s not hard to keep them as a pet. Do you believe that? It’s crazy, well, of course, they can be domesticated but it doesn’t mean that it would be easy and fun for you to keep a fox as a pet in your home.

Many folks find them cute and adorable, but let me get it straight, the only time you would find them cute, fun, enjoyable, and adorable is when they are kits or young. You will start facing and experiencing problems, once they start to grow up.

The only reason behind this is their whole behavior change from time to time because they start to reach their sexual maturity. They can’t be trained as dogs but many people will tell you that they do follow the command. 

Well, it’s a wrong assumption because they will only follow your command when they are kits or young. As soon as they reach their sexual maturity, they stop listening to your command and become disobedient.

Apart from that, they are vicious chewers, which means that your house is no longer safe. They will start chewing furniture and stuff as soon as they start to feel bored. Keeping Fox as a pet is not recommended.

But still, you wish to keep a fox as a pet in your home or want a fox of your own, here are few things you must know before you adopt one:  

What are the Pros of keeping a fox as a pet?



The following are the Pros of keeping a Pet Fox:

  • Foxes are an interesting and unique pet.
  • Foxes have unique behaviors and traits that keep their owner captivated and interested
  • You will have an amazing experience with living and bonding with a fox
  • If you are a photographer, then foxes will work well for you.

What are the Cons of keeping a pet fox?

The following are the Cons of keeping a Pet Fox:



  • Foxes can scream very loud which ma disturb your neighbors and family members.
  • Foxes are very disobedient
  • You will need to provide an outdoor space as foxes are very active and high energy animals.
  • Their behavior can easily frustrate you.
  • They will get bored easily and will start chewing your home furniture and stuff.
  • They are illegal to own in most of the states
  • They can harm a small animal if you have one.
  • They are very expensive to own

What are foxes like?

foxes can’t be trained like dogs and only follows your command when they as kit or young.

They have their own will and you can’t make them do things. They are extremely disobedient and hard-headed.

Plus, they can feel bored most of the time and because of this only, they will start chewing your house’s furniture and stuff.

Are foxes similar to dogs?

No, they are not similar to dogs. Dogs have been domesticated for centuries while foxes not. But still, many folks claim that they can be domesticated. They can be domesticated! but not like dogs. They are very different from dogs.



Again, dogs follow command but foxes don’t and unlike dogs, they can be trained. Even many peoples keep them as a pet but still, they are wild animals.



Depending on where you live, you may be able to care for a certain breed of pet foxes.

A pet fox may fall under different categories in different state legislation (wild canine, small canine, non-domesticated species, native wildlife, etc.), so depending on your state’s regulations you may or not be legally allowed to own one.

Be sure to read your state’s laws before getting any breed of the fox as a pet.

Different Breeds of Pet Foxes

The chances you may be able to care for a pet fox depend on the breed and where you live.

 
Pet Red Foxes

Pet Red Foxes

 

Pet Fennec Foxes

People have been keeping fennec foxes as a pet for a long time. They are very popular for their large ears, small sizes, sweet personality, and long life expectancy.

 

The Fennec foxes fall under non-domesticated species in most state regulations.

Fennec foxes can be commonly seen as a pet due to their availability and popularity as wild animals but they are quite expensive.
 
You can surely expect the cost of fennec fox around 2000 dollars to 3500 dollars depending on the location.
 
Well, these species are very disobedient and people who own them can’t explain or say good and nicer things about them. Unlike fennec foxes, they not so much popular.
 
But still, many pet owner says that can be sweet if take proper precautions and give proper care to them.

 

The Red foxes fall under non-domesticated species in most state regulations. The size of red foxes are larger than fennec foxes and have more body odor than fennec foxes. They also need a large room to play and dig. 



Pet Silver Foxes



Pet Silver Foxes

Pet Silver Foxes

Image Posted in Article ” Fox As A Pet ” is from Creative Common License

Pet silver foxes are also referred to as tame Siberian foxes, sib foxes, the domesticated fox, the tame arctic fox, and other names.

 

They have very different genetic and characteristics differences from arctic and red foxes because of their selective breeding. Currently, you can only find the true silver fox in Russia but if you want, you can own one by getting involved with some process and procedures.

Pet Arctic Foxes



Pet Arctic Foxes

Pet Arctic Foxes

 

Image Posted in Article ” Fox s A You can find a variety of red foxes and the arctic foxes are very similar to the red foxes. However, they are typically smaller in size compared to red foxes and it is not common to see them as a pet. You will find them as a pet very rarely.

The Arctic foxes fall under non-domesticated species in most state regulations. They require the same level of care as a red fox as a pet.

Where are pet foxes legal?



I have researched and find the states where you can keep or own a fox as a pet legally. 



The states where you can own fox legally:



  1. Wyoming
  2. Tennessee
  3. Utah
  4. South Dakota
  5. Oklahoma
  6. Ohio
  7. North Dakota
  8. New York
  9. Nebraska
  10. Missouri
  11. Michigan
  12. Kentucky
  13. Indiana
  14. Florida
  15. Arkansas

Where can I own an arctic fox legally?

You can keep an arctic fox in the habitats of Northern Asia, Northern Europe, and North America

Where can I own Bat Eared fox legally?

You can keep  Bat Eared fox in Africa.

Where can I own Corsac fox legally?

You can keep a Corsac fox in Asia.
 

Where can I own a Grey fox legally?

You can keep Grey fox from North America to Northern South America.
 

Where can I own Red fox legally?

You can own Red fox from Arctic Circle to North Africa, Eurasia, and North America and Australia too.

Where can I own Swift fox legally?

You can keep a Corsac fox in North America
 

How much does a pet fox cost?

A baby fox can cost you around 2,500 dollars to 4000 dollars, depending on the breed and location. The price is continuously increasing day by day. Just a few years back, fox cost was within 900 dollars to 1000 dollars.  But before you go for one – must research on ‘ do fox make good pets? ‘

Will Foxes get along with other pets?

Nope, Foxes doesn’t get along with other pets like cats, birds, etc. Why would they? domesticating them will never change their nature, they will always be a predator and will end up hurting them after all. If you try to get him along with other pets, their only instinct will be to hunt and kill.



Small pets like birds and rodents are prone to predators and are not safe with foxes.



Can foxes be trained?

In some cases, they can. It depends on the breed but keeps in mind, you will need to put more effort and time than dogs to train them because as I already made it clear to you – they are extremely disobedient.
 
Always note that they are not like dogs because they have their own will and are vicious predators, training a fox is not a piece of cake.
 
you’ll need to put too much effort because unlike dogs, they don’t to be trained and want to please their master.
 

What do foxes prefer to eat?



They love feeding or eating small pets and livestock like – Guinea Pigs, Chicken, Rabbits, cats, etc. They can also eat fruits if they need to but still, they prefer meat over vegetables.

Does Fox still hunt?

Even you train them, they will still have those hunting and killing instincts and they will end up hunting down the livestock around them.
 
So, it can be easily stated that keeping foxes as a pet and training them is extremely difficult.

Is it impossible to keep and train the fox as a pet?

No, it is not impossible to keep and train foxes but it will be very hard. It’s tough to train them. You want a pet that can be easily trained, I would recommend getting a dog instead of a fox. 



What is an alternative to Fox as a pet?

Well, as an alternative to the fox, I would say the dog will be perfect. If you admire the look of foxes, then the best alternative to foxes will be “Siberian husky” as they look almost similar to the fox and can make you feel a fox running around your house.

Can you keep foxes in urban or rural areas?

Yes, you can. Foxes are usually harmless and don’t prefer to attack pets and people but still, they need to be removed from rural or urban areas as they can cause real problems sometimes. 



Before you keep a fox as a pet, it is recommended to read – ‘do fox make good pets’

Do foxes attack humans?

They don’t attack humans and are mostly harmless.
 
However, sometimes they can cause serious like they can prey on people’s chicken coop and dig into the garage or yard to eat pet food.

Are foxes omnivores?

Yes, they are omnivores species and their natural diets is largely consist of small invertebrates and vertebrates like insects, rats, birds, guinea pigs, reptiles, and eggs are also included.

They also feed on fruits and plants in the wild. Many fox species are generalist predators but foxes like crab-eating foxes need more specialized diets.



Will foxes eat cats?

It depends, they can attack them and pose little danger to cats. But, with the help of claws and teeth, cats can make foxes go away.

They usually chase cats like dogs but due to their claws and teeth, they back away, as they know that they can suffer from a serious injury during the fight.

However, they do prey on kittens, guinea pigs, rabbits, and other small animals.



Do foxes come out during the day?

Yes, they can come out if they need to. It’s very usual to see a fox out during the day. They prey on chipmunks, squirrels, and other small animals that are only active in the day.

If you see one out during the day, then it’s probably looking for a meal because they are feeling hungry at that time.



Do foxes eat dead animals?

Yes, foxes eat dead animals. However, they prefer to hunt down small animals and eggs but it’s not unusual to see a fox eating the remaining of dead animals.
 
In the wild, when big predators like lions or tiger leave the remaining of their hunt, foxes usually love to scavenge the remains.

Do foxes eat squirrels?

Yes, foxes prey on squirrels in the day time. If you see one out during the day, then it’s probably looking for a meal because they are feeling hungry at that time. Squirrels and chipmunks are their favorite food for a daily meal.

Can foxes breed with cats?

No, a fox can never breed with a cat. It’s impossible because they are not from the same family or the same species. You can breed wild cats with stray cats but breeding a fox with a cat is certainly impossible.
 

Can foxes breed with dogs?

Can Foxes Breed With Dogs?

Can Foxes Breed With Dogs?

 

No, it’s impossible because foxes and dogs, both are canids. They don’t carry the same amount of chromosomes and because of this, they cannot interbreed.

some foxes like a red fox have 38 chromosomes while the raccoon dog has 42 chromosomes which make it impossible to breed.

What foxes eat in the wild?

Well, foxes are omnivores animal and in the wild, they usually eat small mammals, vertebrates, and invertebrates like birds, reptiles, insects, eggs, fruits, berries, crabs, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, seeds, vegetables, Carron, fungi, fish, frogs, squirrels, and chipmunks.



What Foxes eat in Winter

In winter, their diet mainly consists of small mammals like rabbits, mice, guinea pigs, insects, worms, guinea pigs, and other small animals.
 

Are foxes carnivores?

No, they are Omnivores. They usually feed on both veggie-fruits and small animals. Their diet normally consists of fruits, berries, worms, insects, birds, fish, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, rabbits, eggs, etc.



Can foxes swim?

Yes, they can swim as well as jump high just like dogs. They are excellent swimmers with claws and sharp teeth. The fun fact is that they can swim amazingly for their dinner.
 

Why do foxes scream in the night?

Foxes usually scream and bark at night to communicate with each other. Plus, their screaming becomes more common during mating season and the season reaches its peak in January.

Female foxes make loud noises when they mate while male foxes scream at each other as a territory warning.



Can you have pet foxes?

Yes, and many people keep them as a pet but it is not recommended. They are wild animals and foxes are very disobedient.
 
I think that keeping a fox as a pet is selfish as they deserve to live like wild animals. 
 
If you skip the part ‘Do Fox Make Good Pets’ Read that part to clear your doubts!
 

Dogs That Look Like Foxes



Here I have shared 22 dog breeds that look like foxes!

  1. Shiba Inu
  2. Akita Inu or Great Japanese Dog
  3. Samoyed
  4. Finnish Spitz
  5. Pomeranian Spitz
  6. Long Haired Chihuahua
  7. Welsh Corgi
  8. Norwegian Elkhound
  9. Papillon
  10. Eskimo Spitz / German Spitz
  11. Keeshond / Dutch Barge Dog
  12. Schipperke
  13. Pulin
  14. Alaskan Klee Kai
  15. Volpino Italiano
  16. Dhole
  17. Korean Jindo Dogs
  18. Indian Spitz
  19. American Eskimo Dog
  20. Icelandic Sheepdog
  21. Khugsa Dog
  22. Siberian Husky

Can you have pet foxes?

Yes, and many people keep them as a pet but it is not recommended. They are wild animals and foxes are very disobedient. I think that keeping a fox as a pet is selfish as they deserve to live like wild animals. 

Are foxes carnivores?

Yes, they can swim as well as jump high just like dogs. They are excellent swimmers with claws and sharp teeth. The fun fact is that they can swim amazingly for their dinner.

Dogs That Look Like Foxes

Shiba Inu, Akita Inu or Great Japanese Dog, Samoyed, Finnish Spitz, Pomeranian Spitz, Long Haired Chihuahua, Welsh Corgi, Norwegian Elkhound, Papillon, read more.

Where to buy pet foxes?

You can easily buy from the pet store or a licensed breeder. Capturing a fox in the wild is not allowed in most states. If you are looking for a fox as a pet.

Are foxes carnivores?

No, they are Omnivores. They usually feed on both veggie fruits and small animals. Their diet normally consists of fruits, berries, worms, insects, birds, fish, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, rabbits, eggs, etc.