I got my
first fennec fox, Vincent, when he was several months old as part of a
purchase of a large number of animals from brokers. The brokers had not
been able to place him, so they had put him back out with the breeders
for a couple of months, and he had gotten a little wild. They (the brokers,
who are almost always villains in exotic-animal stories) also had prairie
dogs that they had kept for too long without having them altered (this
was around January when uncut prairie dogs have been mean for a month
or so). Apparently, Vincent had wanted to play when a surly prairie dog
didn't, so Vincent got a big chunk taken out of his ear -- hence his name.
It wasn't disfiguring or anything. It looks like a lapel notch.
Back then,
Vincent loved my girlfriend more than me, which I wasn't too happy about,
but that is the fate of daddies. Now she's gone, and I still have Vince,
and we looooove each other. When I come home, before I am anywhere near
the room where he is. The squeals start, and I know he is wriggling on
this back with his paws curled up, wagging the tip of his tail in anticipation
of a belly rub and freedom.
The first
thing he does (after some perfunctory petting -- and all the fennecs I
have known of do the same) is tear out of the cage and snatch the first
thing he can find that is small enough for him to carry, regardless of
what it is (a pen top, a sock, a toy, a dust bunny) and run squealing
back to his cage, sure that he has found the most precious thing there
is -- and that I, the cats, the prairie dogs, and anyone else who knows,
will try to get it away from him. This is repeated several times until
he is satisfied with his nonsensical and eclectic hoard.
He has run
off a little energy by then, so he is ready for petting. Normally, fennecs
will flatten themselves on the ground in front of you. The ears are flat
back too. The fluffy tail straight out behind wags so fast that it looks
more like shuddering. This is begging to be petted. I bend down or I lean
over from my chair or I pick him up. But Vincent has learned that he is
more likely to get petted when he wants if he flops himself at a more
convenient proximity to my hand.
He figured
this out because there is a wicker cat bed next to my chair, so it is
easy for me to reach down and caress whatever cat is there and needs it.
One night Vincent, while trying every possible random posture within my
reach, including throwing himself across my feet, ended up draped over
the side of the cat bed right under my hand. He has been very happy with
his discovery and has started to try it out in other locations, draping
himself over a shoe I just took off, or the arm of a chair....
I mentioned
the cats, the biggest one is Sylvester, the only male, a two-year-old,
short-haired tuxedo who is good natured about everything with everyone.
He will play with any cat that wants to play. You can pick him up by one
back leg and hug him upside-down and belly-out, and he will never resist
or stop purring. Vincent has learned that he can get away with almost
anything with Sylvester.
Last week,
when Vincent didn't find any of the usual suspects to snatch during his
first frenzied sortie. After shooting out a little farther than he normally
has too, he saw the tip of Sylvester's tail move. He snatched the cat's
tail and fired himself back toward his cage. He seemed surprised to find
resistance. That is about how long it took Sylvester to slap him off of
his tail. (Sylvester weighs around ten or twelve pounds, and Vincent weighs
two.) Vincent didn't try it again for a few days, but now he has either
decided that it is a lot of fun, or understood that it amuses me. So,
Sylvester's tail is now the first stop on Vincent's evening raids. He
has become more plucky and has started to hold on and pull. This has taken
Sylvester by surprise: Just as he is lifting his paw to cuff Vincent away,
he is pulled off balance, and has to face back forward to stabilize himself.
If you were standing in front of him when this happened, you'd remember
the expression on a cat's face when he is beginning to be hauled backwards
by a tiny fox (who has every intention of getting at least the tail back
to his cage).
Sylvester
is equally affectionate and needy of attention when I get home, so he
can usually be found somewhere near my legs, even when I am not in my
chair or anywhere near the cat bed. Vincent has noticed this. He has also
noticed that Sylvester's back is higher (therefore nearer my hand) than
the edge of the cat bed. So now, each night, when Vincent has finished
his raids and wants petting, and there is not a chair or something else
nearby to climb on, he throws himself across Sylvester's back like a dead
cowboy and waits to be petted.
Sylvester
minded at first, but he has gotten used to it.
Excerpt
From There's A Fox In The House (Reprinted with permission from the
American Mensa Bulletin, January 2000.)
Article by Donna Fritz
...so of
course I decided to get a second fox in April 1997.
A fennec
is a three-pound desert dweller native to the Middle East, sharp-toothed
and short-tempered, with enormous ears and dark, soulful eyes. Fennecs
don't walk anywhere; they dash, lightning-fast, tail high. Like any fox,
they can be imprinted and trained, but not tamed.
So I know
where she is and what she's doing, Julian wears a bell, handmade for her
by a falconer friend I've known for years, who's the gentlest, quietest,
most inoffensive guy imaginable. Julian took an instant and inexplicable
dislike to him, and when I shut her in her box she screeched dire warnings
for the duration of his visit. The only man she fully accepts is my father,
who feeds her greasy fast food on the sly.
She bosses
Asha unmercifully, snarling and snapping if he comes too close when she's
eating or playing with a toy, or sometimes for no discernible reason at
all. She climbs him like a mountain to stand on his head, and uses him
to jump on and off my recliner. She, too, steals his chewies, and he endures
it with that legendary Golden Retriever patience.
At other
times she'll snuggle up against him, her coat and his so alike it's hard
to tell who's who. She'll bring him a dog biscuit from the jar on the
counter, lay it in front of his nose and watch him eat it, then sprint
off for another. The record so far is twelve in a row. When he hears her
fishing in the ceramic jar Asha thumps his tail, blithely forgetting how
she sinks needle teeth in his ears and digs tufts out of his silken coat.
Her dinner
each night is a well-balanced buffet, set out of canine reach on the kitchen
table: a mouse or rabbit or squirrel meat, diced mixed vegetables, honey
toast, miniature carrots, assorted sugar-coated cereals, fruit of the
day, the occasional leftover from my dinner, and a dish of vanilla liquid
diet supplement. She checks it all carefully, then, like any four-year-old,
she runs off to eat the dead leaves stuck to the firewood.
The trick
to living peacefully with a fox is a policy of complete capitulation.
To keep her from pulling down my curtains in her effort to walk on the
narrow windowsills, I installed wide carpeted shelves. When she developed
the habit of creeping about in the cupboard, knocking over dishes, I crammed
all my dishes onto the top two shelves and lined the bottom shelf with
soft flannel. Insatiably curious, she comes running when I call, because
there's always something fun or yummy or interesting. She somehow makes
me feel honored when she accepts treats and toys.
When she
wants to be petted-and she's remarkably affectionate-she regally presents
herself, confident from experience that I'll drop whatever I'm doing.
If I take too long to finish reading a paragraph, she slides in front
of the book. At night she fox-naps on me, leaping off without warning,
then jumping back up just as suddenly. The cooler the house, the longer
she lingers; never ask a chilly fennec if she loves you for yourself alone.
She's a tiny little tyrant in a woolly, sand-colored coat, and I can't
imagine life without her.
Natural
History:
Fennec foxes are the world's smallest canine with the largest proportional
ears. They are nocturnal omnivores hailing from Saharan africa. Unlike
other species of fox, fennecs live in small social groups or harems dining
on rodents, insects, birds, eggs and desert vegetation. They reach an
adult size of appoximately 3lbs and are a beautiful sandy color. Their
lifespan is about 15 years.
Pet
Potential:
When taking on an exotic species as a companion animal, it is important
to remember this is more a lifestyle choice than a pet choice. Successful
owners of exotic pets take the time to learn the biology and natural behavior
of their specific species. They learn the line of what the species can
be conditioned towards and where they have to accept it for what it is.
Succesful owners of exotic pets plan their life around the animal, not
the other way around. The question is not does a species make a "good"
pet, but will you be a good owner for this specific species. The desire
and ability for this level of dedication is what decides that.
That being
stated, I consider fennec foxes amongst the best of "larger"
exotic animals available.
Their disposition
is akin to a ferret, kitten and puppy meshed. Please note the choice of
juvenile terms in the last two. Fennecs are hyper animals and remain hyper
animals, running around like a zesty 12 week old kitten on a red bull
bender. Unlike the kitten, however, your fennec is not going to grow up
into a lazy, meandering housecat. Although I find this part of their charm,
many people could find this level of energy off putting once the initial
novelty wears off.
An imprinted
fennec is eager to see you when you get home. They will shrill and vocalize
with joy wagging their tails violently in a strictly horizontal fashion.
Released from their crate they are burst of energy running off the initial
excitement and soon leaping and rolling all over you eager for affection.
Fennecs will play fetch with themselves, launching bits of paper or cloth
into the air only to pounce and repeat as soon as it touches the ground.
They leap, climb and clamber over furniture and humans during their playful
exploits, however, when the steam finally runs off they are content to
recharge next to you eagerly accepting ear scratches and petting. Much
like a cat fennecs give and accept affection eagerly, but only on their
terms when they're in a mood. Do not expect an amped up fennec to sit
still until it is ready.
I have found a plant spray bottle helps enormously in curbing undesirable
behavior (digging at furniture, nipping, toileting in undersignated areas).
Even more off putting than their level of energy, some people may have
qualm with their toilet habits. Litter training can be done, but is tentative
at best. The 100% accurate fennec is few and far between. Approximately
50% accuracy is probably to be expected in most instances. Luckily, their
odor is relatively negligible.
They can be moderately destructive to household property (and should be
crated when not supervised), but I have found with enough acceptable stimuli
and the spray bottle handy this can be curbed pretty well. Some individuals
report their fennecs even responding well to basic tricks via clicker
training. If you don't provide acceptable avenues for play, however, expect
some damage. Even with proper toys a fennec is not for the type of person
who keeps plastic liners on their sofa after purchase.
Its speed and agility makes it inclined to escape easily as well, making
them a poor match for a household with children running in and out all
day. They are avid diggers, being reported to dig 20 feet in one night
in the wild. Thus breeders with outdoor animals should keep them in six
sided enclosures. This also means an escaped fennec is difficult to recapture.
It is advised pet animals be altered for health and disposition reasons.
It should be noted, however, there are many instances of imprinted foxes
being kept as both breeders and companion animals.
Housing And Care:
For the safety of the fennec and your household, foxes should be caged
when not supervised. A large dog crate or multi-tier ferret/cat cage works
well for this. The fennec, however, should be caged as little as possible.
This requires making the time to be home for atleast several hours daily.
Most cat and ferret toys are perfect for fennecs.
A pan of cat litter should be provided, and with dilligence and consistency
you can expect it to be used a certain degree of precision.
Diet choices vary, but the staple is usually wild canid of high quality
kitten food. This is often supplemented with wet dog or cat food. Fresh
fruits, vegetables and insects are eagerly accepted as treats.
Other
Considerations:
These notes pertain to bottle-fed, imprinted foxes. Poorly socialized,
neglected or parent raised animals are unlikely to bond as closely with
their keepers. Please remember this is a 15 year commitment! Fennecs are
adorable, precocious gremlins inviting people to aquire them impulsively.
Please make sure that once the initial novelty wears off you are prepared
to deal with enormous energy, hit or miss litter habits and the potential
destruction of furniture and property.
Positives
of fennecs as pets? DB: I personally think they make one of the neatest exotics pets
out there. They are simple to take of, and very small. I never met anyone
who didn't think they weren't adorable and cute with those great big ears.
Their food expense is relatively low, and even the smallest apartments
have plenty of space for them. Fennecs are endearing, addictive, have
cute little voices and very social little creatures. DF: Julian is gorgeous, intelligent and graciously allows herself
to be adored. JR: One of the easiest to care for and most social of all exotics.
GC: Generally they are sweet and affectionate. They are very engaging,
and pretty small, so they are easy to care for. They are also easy to
feed and house.
Negatives
of fennecs as pets? DB: Their size is also their worst negative. They are so small
and quick they can get under your feet-causing you to step on them, or
jump from something high. Both of these have caused fatal injuries in
fennecs. You have to be careful with young children so they don't drop
them, accidentally causing them harm. Some foxes use your house as their
bathroom, rather than a litter box. They startle easily and you have to
be careful how you take them outdoors. They have been known to get out
of harnesses, and take off. DF: Unreliable litter box use; prefers sink, countertops, bookshelf,
chair I'm on... etc. Does not get along with any animal I have except
my Golden Retriever. Will bite me if I do something she doesn't like,
such as pick her up or interrupt a nap. JR: Challenge to litter train. VERY fast. A grown fennec can fit
thru a chain link fence hole so one must plan enclosures, house or otherwise,
accordingly. A fennec does not normally come when called. They can become
disoriented fast when somewhere unknown and if you don't have them on
a firm lead, they can run away and you'll never catch them. On the other
hand I've had several escapes from my breeders and for the most part,
they have never strayed too far from home. I've recovered all escapees
but two. A thunderstorm helped with one who I never found. GC: Not well litter trained. Actually he's 100% in his cage, but
only about 10% out of it. Also, they DIG DIG DIG! Forget houseplants,
woodwork and carpeting. Some are also very skittish around strangers.
Anecdotes/stories
about your pet fennec? DB: Candy was under my coffee table, and Spice (my coati) walked
by. Candy bit her tail. So Spice tried to get under the coffee table to
get her back, but couldn't fit. Every time Spice stuck her head under,
Candy would bite her on the nose. DF: She has a strange relationship with the Golden Retriever; she
bites him, but also brings him biscuits. Caches food items in the sheets
while I sleep. GC: I got Loki at 9 weeks old. He was very friendly for a while,
then suddenly became shy and skittish. Once he was neutered (at 7 months)
he became much more sweet and playful again. However, he still hates my
husband.
Do they
have scent glands or an offensive smell? DB: Fennecs are very clean and I find they have no offensive body
odor. DF: When very scared or very angry, Julian emits a sharp musky
odor from the scent gland at the base of her tail. JR: I've heard of one instance where a male marked with a scent
gland. Otherwise no offensive odor at all. GC: I've never noticed one, except when he pees outside of the
litter box. It's strong sometimes, other times it's not.
What
is their average life span? DB: Fennec Foxes are the smallest of the wild canids, they live
11-14 years. °They are 10-16 inches long and weigh 2-3 lbs. The female
being the smaller one. Their ears are 5-6 inches in height.
Do they
enjoy interaction? DB: Yes, they love their humans and other non human companions.
They will give you a kiss, roll over for a belly rub, lay on the floor
with their tail wagging, or bark for your attention. They get tickled
and exited when you come home, and love to play fetch. DF: Demands affection by sliding across what I'm doing, or throwing
herself on her back or side in front of me wherever I am, even as I'm
walking. JR: Attention Craving Gremlins!! GC: Do they ever! Loki will play with anyone or anything (except
husband!) He especially loves my sons (ages 12 & 10). He will be alternately
a ball of energy and race around playing tag, and then lay on your lap
to have his ears rubbed.
What
is their general personality, disposition, and attitude? DB: Fennecs are friendly, lovable, feisty, and very social. They
have great dispositions and are a blast to watch. When they kill their
food (Don't care if it was never alive to begin with.), they pounce on
it, run around and scream before they eat it. They are not quick to anger,
and they carry themselves proudly as if to say "Look at me, I'm as cute
as they come and just as perfect as perfect can be." DF: Curious, playful, affectionate, lightning-fast, great sense
of humor. JR: Playful, excited, hi-energy, friendly, a general riot. GC: Sweet and affectionate, but also stubborn and selfish. They
want what they want. What you want is beside the point. Also, he sleeps
much of the time, like a cat - sleeping most of the day and night with
occasional outbursts of manic activity.
Are they
sweet and petable, or mischievous and playful? DB: Fennecs are as sweet as any puppy out there. They come over,
let you hold and pet them, and off they go. They repeat this every hour
or so. They love to steal things from you, such as keys, paperwork, knickknacks,
and other things. They run up and nip your toes or nose, tip your soda
can/cup, take ornaments off your tree, and steal your food. Fennecs love
to play with all kinds of toys (Watch out for toys that might strangle
them.), chase you/other pets/their tails, and run faster anything I have
ever seen, thru your house. DF: All of the above, depends on her mood. But always highly aggressive
toward prey items (i.e., rodents, rabbits, birds, etc.) JR: Mostly mischievous and playful but will come up for a 10 second
to several minute pet or snuggle. Rule of thumb with any exotic...What
you put in is what you get out. In other words, how you treat them will
have a lot to do with how they are. GC: Both. Mostly sweet, and very playful. Less tolerance for quiet
petting than rough housing. He prefers to wrestle and run most times -
at least when he's awake.
How destructive
are they for an average household? DB: I don't consider them very destructive. They do dig, and can
cause damage to your carpets, doors and window sills. If you have an outdoor
pen, it'll need a bottom or they can dig out. They can dig up to 20 feet
in one night. DF: Not very, unless you count pee stains. JR: Somewhat like a puppy can be. If they are bored they will get
into trouble. GC: Not terribly destructive - no chewing habits. Still, they dig
a lot, and this can kill plants, scratch doors, pull up carpeting or wear
down couch cushions.
Do they
climb or tear up furniture? DB: They don't tear up your furniture, but will bury their food
in the cushions. Fennecs are quite capable of jumping up high or climbing.
Actually I can't figure out how something so small can jump so high. Fennecs
will climb wire cages to get at prey species. DF: Climb, YES! Tear up, no not at all. JR: Not really that I've head of GC: No climbing but a lot of jumping and knocking things over.
Also, as stated before, the digging can destroy things.
Are there
any problems associated with their claws? DB: Their nails need to be trimmed like a dogs. They are very sharp
and can scratch you good, especially when they are spooked. DF: Need to be clipped occasionally. JR: No GC: Occasional trimming prevents scratches.
How messy
are their droppings? DB: They are firm and solid like a dogs. DF: Doglike JR: Depends on what you feed them. Generally stool is stiff and
reasonably well formed. Veggies in Veggies out. GC: About like a small dog. The bad part is the urine - it can
smell bad sometimes.
Can they
be litter box trained? DB: Yes, but not all of them are. My little girl is 100% (I got
her at 4wks), but my male is 0% (I got him at 3 mths-4 months), unless
you count the whole house for him. DF: Hahahahahahaha! JR: VERY challenging. GC: I've heard that many (not all) owners of females have better
luck with litter boxes than with males. Loki keeps his cage fairly clean,
but outside of the cage, anything goes.
Can they
be trained? DB: Yes, they come when their called, if your not trying to put
them in their cage. They do dog tricks, understand no, and can walk on
a leash (Be careful with this so they don't get away.), will listen most
of the time. DF: She will do things for immediate personal gratification, such
as go in her cage for a cricket. JR: Never say never. GC: Somewhat. They like routines, so that can work for you. They
are also very food oriented, so will do many things for treats. They also
don't have a large attention span, so it's not like a dog.
How are
they with other pets, larger and smaller? DB: Fennecs are good with certain pets, like cats, some dogs, some
ferrets, some genets, and some coatis. You have to supervise their play
so the fennec doesn't get hurt. They can't handle rough play or they will
be hurt. Now they do play rough their self sometimes, but they can't really
hurt these animals. I just correct my fennecs when they get sassy so the
others don't get mad at them. I don't allow my fennecs to play with rodents
or birds, this is their prey in the wild. They will go after the even
if they are bottle feed babies, it's only natural. DF: Gets along with my 12-yr-old Golden Retriever because he tolerates
anything. JR: A kitten can make a wonderful best friend. Generally yes. But
take into consideration what they might eat in the wild and plan accordingly. GC: Loki loves the cat and chases (or is chased by) her. He also
loves to watch our small rodents, though I'd never let him interact with
them - they are his natural prey animals. Birds also would not be good
as companions for a fennec. From all I have heard, fennecs like almost
all animals their size or larger, even if that animal doesn't like them.
What
size cage do they need? DB: You can use a kennel, triple deck cage, a room, or a carrier
(for when your gone) if they have free reign. They need numerous toys,
a den, they like hammocks (watch height), and have a fondness for blankets.
DF: I keep her confined in a giant-size dog crate with a shelf
I added when I'm not here. Evenings, nights, weekends--her "cage" is my
house. JR: I feel like the large three story ferret cage works well. It
all really depends on how much time they will be in it. GC: Loki stays in a cat/ferret cage at night and when we are gone.
It has shelves, ramps, and places for him to hide in and sleep (he especially
loves the hammock). Otherwise, he has free roam of the house. He tends
to stick to certain areas - living room, dining room, kids' bedrooms,
and occasionally the kitchen to mess with the cat's food and look for
dropped food.
What
do you feed them? DB: They should be fed Dry Wild Canid feed, with fruits, vegetables,
crickets, meal worms, and eggs. They can also be fed live rodents, but
this will cause their urine and stool to become strong smelling. DF: Raw rabbit/squirrel/mice, pulverized with the bones and cut
into fennec-bite-sized pieces, fruits & veggies, dry cereal, Ensure, people
food, etc.; she also has dry dog food available, which she buries in my
sofa but doesn't seem to actually eat, and occasionally I'll offer some
canned cat food which she usually snubs. NO CHOCOLATE. JR: I feed my breeding fennecs a premium brand puppy food and mixed
veggies. A pet will eat what you give it and anything it can steal. GC: Combination of dry puppy kibble, chunky canned cat food, and
frozen (thawed) veggies. Occasional fresh fruit and cereal for treats.
He loves sweets like candy, pop, marshmallows, etc and will steal them
if at all possible. Of course, these are not terribly good for a fennec,
so this should be pretty rare for those kind of treats. (We don't give
him candy or pop, but he's pretty resourceful).
What
vaccinations/vet care do they require? DB: This should be discussed with an experience exotic vet. Normally
recommended is dog distemper, parvo, and rabies. All need to be killed
vaccines or they can kill your fox. Mine was dewormed with strongid-p.
They should have yearly checkups, shots and stool samples. They can be
spayed or neutered. DF: I have my vet give her dog shots: Recombitec 4-way and Imrab
Rabies. JR: A lot of vets recommend distemper. This is something you should
discuss in detail with your vet and arrive at your own conclusions. My
rule of thumb is if they will not be exposed to it, don't vaccinate for
it. GC: Basically like that of a small dog. Loki gets Parvocene, Galaxy
D (distemper), and Imrab3 (rabies). He also takes Heartguard to prevent
heart worm. They need a series of 3 each of the parvo and distemper as
babies, then once a year as a booster. Rabies is yearly and the heart
worm preventative I give him every month, though it's probably only necessary
in months that mosquitoes are out.
At what
age would it be best to get one? DB: A bottle fed weaned baby would be best for the first time exotic
owner. Babies sold on the bottles to inexperienced bottle feeders can
die. This due to their strong their strong sucking and the formula ending
up in their lungs. DF: I got mine at 11 months and she is wonderful--now. The first
few weeks I needed leather gloves to handle her. JR: With most exotic the earlier the better but I have had fennecs
successfully bond as late as 5 months. GC: 5 to 8 weeks would be ideal, though before 8 weeks it involves
some bottle feeding. Still, it helps them bond with you if they are younger.
Other
Consideration for owners of fennecs? DB: Remember Fennec Foxes are exotic pets, and will have some wild
instincts. Also please don't keep these cute little creatures locked up
all the time. It's not fair to them and you would be missing out on so
much. Warning, if your fennec bites someone, rabies shot or not, in most
states they will take your pet and kill it. DF: Her motto is, if something she does bothers me, that's my problem,
not hers. JR: Kids, regulations. GC: They are not dogs or cats - though they have qualities of each.
They are still wild animals and will act on instinct. Punishment doesn't
work very well as a deterrent. You simply have to be patient and accept
them if they are not exactly what you thought they'd be.
What
kind of person should own these animals? DB: I think most people who love animals would do fine with a fennec
fox. DF: PATIENT, TOLERANT, high pain threshold JR: Again, this is one of the best pets in the exotic industry.
My only comment here is "if you cannot abide poop in inappropriate places,
this isn't your pet. GC: Patient, not loud, vigilant, energetic, lightning quick reflexes
would help (I don't have those).