So, you want a pet fox?

Here's what you need to know. Foxes raised to be pets are what is referred to as tame. They are not domesticated animals like a dog or cat. The difference is that domestic dogs have been living with and adapting to people for around 30,000 years while your fox's ancestors may have only been kept as pets for something like 30 or 50 years. Responsible breeders raising foxes for pets have selectively bred only the most tame foxes in controlled environments for many generations and hand raised and socialized the kits (babies). This makes them tame but they still retain many of their wild instincts. These natural instincts in foxes can potentially lead to some very destructive and undesirable behavior. They chew, climb, jump, dig, steal, and many species have a strong odor which they use to mark their territory. To sum it up, if you choose to get a fox as a pet he is unlikely to adapt to your lifestyle. You will have to adapt to his. The following information is about general fox care. Be sure to also check out the species specific links on this page because requirements vary greatly with an animal that can range from a 3 pound fennec to a 15 pound red fox.

Housing

Very young kits should always be kept in an indoor enclosure when not closely supervised. Most species are small enough at this point to squeeze through the holes in many types of fencing. The general rule of thumb is if the animal can fit its head through, assume it can squeeze its body through. Also, being outdoors alone can be scary for a tiny fox cub and you would miss out on critical bonding opportunities. The indoor kennel should have some type of bed or box for him to hide in. A litter box is also a good idea. When loose indoors, you must make sure your fox is watched very closely. Put breakables and anything valuable (including your car keys) away, keep electrical cords out of reach, and consider using child locks or rubber bands on cabinet doors. If keeping your fox indoors through adulthood you should crate train, limit access to a specific fox-safe room, or ideally have an outdoor pen (secured with a top and bottom) to keep your fox in when you are unable to watch him or her. Foxes love to be outdoors and should have that opportunity often. Provide different smells and textures outdoors, such as wood, sand, dirt, rocks, gravel, and hay. They don't have to all be in the pen at the same time. Introducing new items periodically will help keep your fox entertained. Try to keep their outdoor enclosure similar to what their natural habitat would be in the wild.

Feeding

Feeding your fox is relatively easy. The primary source of his food should be a good quality dog food (meat should be the first ingredient). Kits should be started on puppy food. As he or she reaches around a year of age, you can slowly switch to adult dog food, leave it on puppy, or a feed a combination of the two depending on activity level. If your fox starts getting chunky, gradually reduce the amount of puppy food and increase the amount of adult food. Or to keep things simple, or you can feed a formula of food intended for all life stages of foxes.

Behavior/Handling

I've had great success using a gentle spritz of water from a spray bottle when teaching the word "no" to foxes having a tough time with the concept. Some people keep a collar on all the time, then put on the harness and remove the collar for comfort when walking. Get him or her used to a safety/breakaway collar (if desired), harness, leash, and grooming (bathing, nail clipping, and brushing fur and teeth) as early as possible. Walk your fox often! Foxes must be continually re-exposed to situations like this, otherwise they have a tendency to become fearful of it in a very short time. Plushies, ropes, squeaky toys, baby rattles, dangling and spring cat toys, and similar things will give your fox something to do besides digging in the couch cushions and stealing your shoes. Please be aware that many dogs have a powerful instinct to attack foxes, so always use caution if walking your fox anywhere dogs might be. To teach which items are acceptable to play with, you can smear a small amount of peanut butter on the toys and give praise for playing with them.