Thinking about adding an exotic pet to your family? Foxes, with their captivating wild charm, might pique your interest. While the idea of a pet fox is enchanting, it’s crucial to understand that these animals are not domesticated like dogs or cats. Owning a fox is a significant commitment that requires careful consideration of their unique needs and behaviors. This guide explores various fox breeds that are sometimes kept as pets, offering insights into their characteristics to help you make an informed decision.
Fennec Fox: The Popular Choice
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The fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) stands out as the most commonly kept fox as a pet. Their popularity stems from their small size, relatively gentle temperament, and availability through private breeders in the U.S. Fennec foxes are known for their distinctive large ears and playful personalities. They can form strong bonds with their owners and are known for their sweet disposition, making them potentially good companions. However, it’s important to remember that fennec foxes can be nippy, especially around small children or other pets. Their delicate nature as the smallest fox breed in the world means they need protection from larger or rougher housemates. Fennec foxes are also quite vocal, using a wide range of sounds from whimpers and growls to shrieks and howls to communicate.
Species Overview: Fennec Fox
Length: 12 to 16 inches
Weight: 2 to 4 pounds
Physical Characteristics: Cream or fawn-colored long, thick fur; distinctively large, bat-like ears; and hairy feet adapted for desert environments.
Red Fox: The Classic Wild Card
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While not as popular as fennec foxes, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are also kept as pets. Owners often describe their red foxes as being as affectionate as house cats. However, it’s vital to recognize that red foxes are not domesticated animals and come with certain challenges. One significant drawback is their strong urine odor, often cited as the smelliest among fox breeds. Spaying or neutering can help mitigate the smell to some extent. Red foxes also have a natural inclination to dig and require ample space to satisfy this instinct. This need for space and digging opportunities is greater than that of some other fox breeds. A specific variety of red fox, the silver fox, has undergone domestication efforts in Russia, resulting in a reduced urine odor and improved temperament compared to their wild counterparts.
Species Overview: Red Fox
Length: 36 to 42 inches
Weight: 8 to 15 pounds
Physical Characteristics: Characterized by a long snout, large pointed ears, and vibrant red fur across their face, back, sides, and tail. They have a grayish-white throat, chin, and belly, along with black feet and black-tipped ears, finished with a fluffy white-tipped tail.
Silver Fox (Domesticated): A Tamer Option
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The silver fox, also known as the tame Siberian fox, domesticated fox, or Sibfox, represents a truly domesticated fox breed. While genetically a variation of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), decades of selective breeding in Russia have led to distinct characteristics and some genetic differences. True domesticated silver foxes are exclusively available from Russia and can be challenging and expensive to acquire, sometimes costing upwards of $10,000.
These foxes exhibit dog-like traits, including tail-wagging when happy, barking, vocalization, and even floppy ears. Their urine odor is significantly reduced compared to wild red foxes, making them more suitable as pets in this aspect. However, their care requirements are generally similar to other fox breeds. For those seeking a potentially easier-to-manage pet fox, fennec or gray foxes might be more readily available and less demanding alternatives.
Species Overview: Silver Fox (Domesticated)
Length: 36 to 42 inches
Weight: 8 to 15 pounds
Physical Characteristics: Similar in build to red foxes with long snouts and pointy ears, but distinguished by their coat color, which ranges from black to bluish-gray to silver, often with a white-tipped tail. Silver hairs may be scattered throughout their coat.
Arctic Fox: The Cold-Weather Specialist
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Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) share similarities with red foxes but are typically smaller and less commonly kept as pets. Adapted to frigid Arctic environments, they are sensitive to heat and may overheat more easily than other fox breeds. Providing adequate cooling measures is crucial for arctic foxes in warmer climates. Due to a limited breeding population in the U.S., some arctic foxes may suffer from genetic problems due to overbreeding.
Like red foxes, arctic foxes are known for their strong urine odor and scent marking behavior, making them potentially less suitable for indoor living. They also have a penchant for digging and may turn their litter box into a play area rather than a designated bathroom. Despite these challenges, arctic foxes can have pleasant temperaments.
Species Overview: Arctic Fox
Length: 28 inches
Weight: 6 to 10 pounds
Physical Characteristics: Seasonal coat changes are a hallmark, with a dark gray to brown to bluish-brown coat in the summer transitioning to a thick, white or creamy white coat in winter. They have a long, bushy tail, short nose, small curled-back ears, and short, sturdy legs.
Gray Fox: The Calm and Friendly Fox
Gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were once the most prevalent fox species in the U.S. However, habitat changes have shifted the balance, making red foxes more dominant. Gray foxes are often described as the calmest and friendliest fox species. While most foxes are naturally wary of strangers, gray foxes tend to be amiable and affectionate with a wider range of people. Like other foxes, gray foxes are not easily housebroken, though their urine is less pungent than some species. They can exhibit destructive behaviors in the home, such as digging carpets, territorial marking, and chewing on inappropriate items.
Species Overview: Gray Fox
Length: 31 to 45 inches
Weight: 8 to 14 pounds
Physical Characteristics: Their coat is a mix of peppery gray on top with reddish-brown on their sides, chest, and the back of their head. They have reddish-colored legs and feet, a long, bushy tail with a distinctive black stripe on top, pointed ears, a pointed muzzle, and long, hooked claws adapted for climbing.
Bat-Eared Fox: The Insectivore Specialist
Bat-eared foxes (Otocyon megalotis) are a smaller and less common fox species in the pet trade. Native to the African plains, their diet in the wild primarily consists of insects, with termites and dung beetles making up a significant portion. As pets, their diet can be supplemented with meat and vegetables. While bat-eared foxes have been kept indoors, they, like other fox species, require secure, escape-proof enclosures due to their digging and scent-marking tendencies.
Species Overview: Bat-Eared Fox
Length: 18 to 26 inches
Weight: 6 to 12 pounds
Physical Characteristics: Distinguished by their exceptionally large ears, a yellowish-gray coat, a black face and legs, and black-tipped ears and tail.
Swift Fox: The Gentle and Quiet Breed
Swift foxes (Vulpes velox), originating from North American grasslands, are a small fox species that are relatively rare in the exotic pet trade. They are known for their loving temperament and are generally quieter and less energetic than fennec foxes. Some owners report that swift foxes are easier to litter train compared to other breeds. Swift foxes are omnivores, with a diet that includes grasses, fruits, small mammals, carrion, and insects. In the wild, their lifespan is around 6 years, but as pets, they can live up to 14 years.
Species Overview: Swift Fox
Length: 31 inches
Weight: 4 to 7 pounds
Physical Characteristics: Their coat is a dark, grayish-tan that extends to a yellowish-tan color on their sides and legs. They have a pale yellow to white throat, chest, and belly, a black-tipped tail, black patches on their muzzle, and large ears.
Kit Fox: The Inquisitive and Bond-Forming Fox
The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is closely related to the swift fox and shares a similar size. Native to southwestern North America, kit foxes are naturally inquisitive and exhibit less fear of humans, often forming strong bonds with their owners. They are omnivores in the wild and as pets thrive on a varied diet including high-quality, protein-rich dog food, cooked or raw meats, vegetables, and fruits. Enrichment can be provided through treats like hidden crickets or mealworms, stimulating their natural foraging instincts.
Kit foxes are generally quiet, but may vocalize with low barks or growls. They are considered one of the easier fox species to litter or potty pad train. As natural climbers, providing a cat tree or condo is recommended, along with a sandbox to indulge their digging behavior.
Species Overview: Kit Fox
Length: 12 to 20 inches
Weight: 3 to 6 pounds
Physical Characteristics: Characterized by big ears, a grayish-orange topcoat with a white underbelly, and a black-tipped tail.
Pale (Pallid) Fox: The Low-Odor Desert Fox
Pale foxes (Vulpes pallida) are native to the Sahara Desert and are another rare find in the exotic pet trade. Acquiring one often requires importation and can be expensive. Pale foxes are notable for their low odor compared to other fox species and are considered easier to train than fennec foxes, with a friendly disposition. They are vocal animals, making loud, high-pitched screeches similar to fennec foxes.
Species Overview: Pale (Pallid) Fox
Length: 15 to 17 inches
Weight: 4 to 6 pounds
Physical Characteristics: Their coat is pale, sandy-colored with a whitish underbelly. They have a long body, relatively short legs, a narrow muzzle, long ears rounded at the top, and a bushy, black-tipped tail.
Corsac Fox: The Steppe Dweller
Corsac foxes (Vulpes corsac) originate from northern Asia and are more commonly kept as pets in the U.K. than in the U.S. They are often compared to swift foxes in terms of behavior, care, and appearance. Corsac foxes are relatively easy to potty train, but they do scent mark, and their urine has a strong odor. Regular bathing is necessary to manage coat odor. Providing climbing structures is recommended for Corsac foxes kept indoors. Owners should be prepared for a significant shedding period once a year in the spring.
Species Overview: Corsac Fox
Height: 19 to 24 inches
Weight: 6 pounds
Physical Characteristics: They have a thick, soft gray coat with silvery tones and a whitish underside, and a black-tipped tail.
Are Foxes the Right Pet for You?
Owning a fox is an extraordinary experience, but it’s essential to approach it with realistic expectations and thorough preparation. Each fox breed has unique traits, but common considerations across all include their wild instincts, specialized care needs, and legal implications of ownership which vary by location. Before considering a fox as a pet, conduct extensive research, understand the specific requirements of the breed you’re interested in, and ensure you can provide a suitable environment and lifestyle for these fascinating creatures.
