Loki the Red Fox FAQ – Last updated: June 29 2016
<NEW> = UPDATED on June 29 2016
1 - I do not recommend having a fox as a pet
2 – A wild fox should be in the wild – Do not take foxes out of the wild
3 – I do not know where to get foxes
4 – Stop hunting foxes, Please stop wearing fur, Protect our planet and what area wild animals have left to survive.
If Loki can help 1 fox… what we are doing is worth it.
If Loki can help all foxes around the world…. Then we have ALL made a difference for the existence of foxes. Help us make a difference.
Share Loki, he is just one little fox trying to change the world!!!
I am starting with this because I need to get this out of the way…. These kind of people do not read very good and will lose focus if they have to scroll or try to find this section…..
<NEW> For people that are saying Loki is not happy and he should be in the wild with his own kind and running in the fields!! And It is animal abuse what I am doing to Loki...... You're WRONG!!!!
Are you an animal behaviorist?? Have you studied Foxes?? Have you interacted with Foxes?? How many foxes have you cared for?? I would say the answer to all of these questions is NO!! You have probably seen one at the zoo or one running away from you in the wild so you are now a fox expert and you got your Fox degree in a Cracker Jack box
<NEW> Here is an article from National Geographic and the heading on it reads... "Most Captive-Born Predators Die If Released" please read the article if you think he should be in the wild. Foxes have predators in the wild... Wolves and Coyotes will devour a fox in a heartbeat, foxes that are captive bred have no training on defending themselves or what to do if attacked.
Here is a quote from the article... "We wouldn't dream of taking an animal that had grown up in a zoo surrounded by humans and then put it out in the wild"
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080123-carnivores-wild_2.html
1 – Adult Foxes are solitary animals, and live alone except during mating season, so he does not want to be with his own kind, he prefers to be alone.
http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/wilderness-library/red-fox/
2 – When you see a fox running in the fields it is not playing it is hunting. As soon as a fox wakes up, it leaves the den and will run about 5 miles a day to hunt for food which is when you see then running through the fields. They will probably eat only three times a week which is why foxes in the wild are normally really thin.
With that explained…. What drives a fox????
A fox’s drive is to eat!! To survive!! To be able to eat the next day… that’s it. They do not want to be with their own kind and if their tummies are full they are happy foxes!!! You are trying to push the idea that you have of a dog or cat and imagining that into a fox’s needs or wants are.
You are totally wrong!!!!
Loki comes from over 8 generations of captive bred foxes that will not survive in the wild, even if him, his brothers and sisters, and his parents would have escaped the tiny cages they were in at the fur farm they would have died a slow and painful death by starving or eaten by other predators in less than a month. Loki does not have the proper training skillz to hunt on his own or any survival skillz to protect him against the harsh weather and mean old predators. So releasing him to the wild will be certain death for him.
Loki is happy and very well taken care of; I have changed my whole life around for him. His wellbeing is my priority #1. I am in contact on a weekly basis and friends with over 9 Sanctuary owners (Just in case something ever happens to me) around the world that handle from 2 – 15+ foxes, wolves, coyotes and they all say the same thing, Loki is one of the happiest home foxes they have ever seen. So your argument is invalid
If you do not like what I am doing… Thank you!!! you are still watching my videos and contributing :)
As Captain Jack Sparrow put it.. I might be the worst pirate you have heard of... but you HAVE heard of me!!!
So keep hating and watching :)
<NEW> How do you know Loki is 8 -9 generations of captive bred foxes??
I checked his “born on date” and “Origin” tag by his tail… all foxes have those!!
His white tipped paw… Foxes in nature do not have that type of distinguishing markings on them. It takes years and years (8 or 9+ years) of captive breeding to start displaying those types of characteristics. Why… Because of the captive breeding / domestication of foxes, they start to lose their natural ability / instinct which cause a transformation in the fox. Their legs get shorter, the ears get floppier, they wag their tails, and they lose their camouflage which causes the distinguishing markings to start appearing on them. They no longer need the skillz to hunt or the camouflage to hide because they are fed and taken care of; the same as dogs were 20,000 years ago (give or take a year or two)
<NEW> How long do foxes live for
Foxes in the wild live up to 4 – 5 years if they are really lucky, a majority will not make it past 3 years old. Out of a 6 – 10 kit litter about 2 - 4 might make it to 6 months old. The major causes of death to foxes in the wild is #1-mange, #2-predators, #3-humans, #4-Starvation Yes we beat starvation!!
**Mange is a horrible way to die (not there’s a good way) they go blind and can’t hunt or they freeze to death in the winter.
A fox in captivity can live up to 10 – 15 years and out of a 6 – 10 kit litter 6 – 7+ will make it to adulthood
Research:
Google search for “How long do foxes live in the wild”
The Fox Website: http://www.thefoxwebsite.net/ecology/ecologyfacts
Yahoo Answers: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090206114818AAwZyjd
Wilderness Classroom: http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/wilderness-library/red-fox/
Live Science: http://www.livescience.com/27168-foxes.html
*** IMPORTANT!!! Please reference this as <CAT LIKE> you will see it a lot in this document
<NEW> Foxes are called the cat like canine’s <CAT LIKE>
Foxes have a lot of cat characteristics in common with and sometimes act just like cats. From their attitudes to the way they react to certain things to the way they play. Remember this it will come up again…. So if it is OK for a cat it is OK for a fox
I want a fox, where do I get one?
No you don’t and I do not know where to get foxes.
Foxes are not dogs, foxes are not cats, you cannot compare a fox to any other animal, foxes are foxes and they will behave as such. They have similar traits as a dog or a cat but they have the thinking of a FOX!! They are not easy animals to have, they will destroy your house, they will pee on everything you love, they will steal your shoe, remote, shirt, ANYTHING and pee on it and tear it up. You cannot change a fox. Even if you have raise dogs you have no idea what you’re in store for if you get a fox. They will jump 6ft in the air and knock over the pictures you have of grandma and the kids on the walls and on the dresser. They will bite!! Did I mention they bite!! If my dog bites me I will get rid of it, well don’t get a fox. I have loved foxes all my life and I want one. Keep Looking at foxes online and save yourself the tremendous responsibility and headache you get when you have a fox. You cannot take a vacation because you cannot board a fox so you have to find someone to take care of your fox, you better own your own home because you will not be able to rent an apartment or a house with a fox unless you get lucky and find a private owner and no association. Are you planning on having a baby?? No!! Foxes do not eat babies, but he might nip at it if the baby/kid tries to pull its tail or the fox is in a bad mood. Be responsible and do your research and make sure you are committed to make a 15 year eternal member of the family. So many foxes get rehomed because of irresponsible HUMANS making bad decisions because it was a cool idea at the time. I will referencing this paragraph through this document as AA-1
<NEW> How would you describe having a fox in your life
The best way to describe a fox , is like having an 18 pound ferret, that can jump 6 feet in the air, that has the attitude of a cat, that plays like a dog, with the mentality of a raccoon, and the attention span of a squirrel and you still have 50% fox in there… NOT KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<NEW> What kind of fox is Loki??
Loki is an American Red fox.
His classification is Vulpes Vulpes Subspecies: Fulvus
** Foxes are canine’s
<NEW> My friend has a half fox half dog mix (fox/dog) and it is a really good pet
Foxes and other canines cannot mate, it is scientifically impossible for them to breed. A fox has a chromosome count of 2n=34 and dog has a chromosome count of 2n=78 nearly double that of a fox's, so they will not pair. Unless you friend works for area 51 and has done some sort of supernatural gene splicing your friend has a dog, most likely it's a Pomeranian
Where did you get Loki from??
We got Loki from a local pet store here in South Florida, the pet store got Loki from a fur farm. So he was rescued by the pet store and me, if it wasn’t for both parties Loki would have been part of a coat before his second birthday
How long have you had him and how old is he??
We got baby Loki when he was 5 weeks old and as of April 1st 2016 he is 5 years old, you can do the math.
Is Loki one of those Russian Domesticated foxes you get for $8,000 that are really rare??
No... we paid 300.00 for Loki he is more like your flea-market garage sale type of cheap fox, but he is my little flea-market fox :)
Do you need a permit for him??
Yes!! I have 2 permits. The first one is the "Personal Pet Permit" that one is to have him and take him to the vet. The second one is called the "Exhibitor" permit and that one is to be able to bring him out in public and protect the humans from him. With the exhibitor permit I have to fax in an Itinerary of where he is going to be 24 hours in advance. I have to include both of his permit numbers and the name, address and phone number of where he is going to be for the day. Even if I am going to take him to the pet store I have to fax it in 24 hours in advance.
Does Loki have his shots like a dog and is he neutered??
Yes!! Loki has all of his shots. He is on canine rabies, ferret distemper, and feline heartworm. Loki was neutered at 6 months old
Do you take him to a normal vet??
No we take him to an exotic animal vet, his vet has seen over 120 foxes and really knows what he is doing.
Is Loki microchipped??
NO.. I live in the city, if Loki ever ran away he would be destroyed before they examine for a chip or he will be hit by a car, even if I had a collar on him. He would put up so much of a fight against them that it would not matter they will destroy him. I wish that was different but it is the reality where I live at. This is why he is not allowed outside and we are so careful when he is out
<NEW> What does Loki eat??
Foxes are omnivores, They eat meat and plants (Fruits and veggies)
This is the diet I have Loki on, other fox owners might have their foxes on a different diets.
2 days of two different types of dog food mixed together (Orijen Red and Zignature)
1 day of Orijen Regional Red cat food
1 day of grilled steak or grilled chicken
Start the process over again….
He also gets carrots, apples, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, pears, mango on a daily basis, one of these a day or a mix of two with less quantity.
Loki gets anything we are eating is tiny quantities.
To clarify.. Foxes do not eat babies or your normal house hold pet, if a fox is really hungry it might go after a kitten but that would be a last resort for a fox, they are opportunistic hunters and won't go after something that is going to put up a fight and hurt them.
<NEW> How much does Loki eat??
He has a 20oz bowl in his den for food that lasts him 2 days. He has food and water accessible to him 24/7
<NEW> Is Loki taking any supplements??
Once a fox hits a certain age you should start giving them supplements to aid in the damage they caused themselves when they were young and pouncing. That takes a tool on their joints. Loki is on a quarter Life4pets joint medication tab + a quarter of a glucosamine tab + half a pet tabs vitamin on a daily basis
<NEW> How much does Loki weigh??
Loki is currently 18lbs – 05/27/2016
<NEW> Where does Loki go to the bathroom?? <CAT LIKE>
Loki had been littler trained just like a cat since he was months old; He has not had an accident since he was 2 years old. This is not the same for all foxes, Loki took to the litter very easily some foxes will not use a litter box, results will vary. Loki also likes going to the bathroom in the spare bathroom bathtub
<NEW> Does your house smell like pee and poop, because fox pee really stinks
I have to tell you but fox poop also stinks lol
Fox urine does have a very strong smell to it, which is affected by the foxes diet… If you feed it roses their pee will not smell like roses but the diet will reduce the pungent smell from the urine a bit. You have to keep a clean house if you want to have an indoor fox. I vacuum every day, I mop the floors every weekend and do a full mopping where I move all of the furniture in the living room every month. I have two Air Ionizers from Brookstone around his cage and I have “natures air sponges” throughout the house
Does Loki have an outside enclosure??
No. He is a 100% indoor fox, we live in Florida and it is normally 96 degrees with 80% humidity 11 months out of the year. Loki does not like the heat at all; he really like the A/C. He goes outside when we take him out to different places around town.
<NEW> Do you take him out for walks?? <CAT LIKE>
NO!! Loki is like a cat in this way. He is scared of dogs and hates to be in open areas. We also live in the city. Have you tried taking a cat out for a walk on a leash… what happens?? The cat starts freaking out and wants to hide under the first cat it sees and tries to hide in the bushes. Cats don’t like walks, Loki does not like walks… pretty simple J Loki starts smelling around and then starts hyperventilating and freaking out as he is walking at any little noise thinking it is a dog or a predator that is going to jump out of the bushes and drag him away or hurt him. It really stresses him out and he cannot wait to be in the house again. There is no need to walk him.
<NEW> Doesn't Loki need exercise they run around all the time in the wild??
Yes foxes need exercise... but foxes in the wild only live 3-4 years, their bodies would fall apart if they lived to be 10 - 15 years old. A A fox's body is not engineered to go live that long so having a relaxed fox looking out a window after a certain age is not a bad thing. If he was going all the time he would fall apart.
<NEW> Does Loki ever leave the house??
YES!!! Loki has been going out since he was 3 months old, we would take him out every weekend to restaurants and bars around the house. Loki has hung out more than some people have in a life time!!! Loki does not drink any alcohol when we are out because he is the designated driver J He is very well adapted to going out. **We have not taken Loki out too much for over a year, here is why…. He is on ferret distemper, they did not make the ferret distemper for over a year and Loki did not have his vaccine, we did not want to risk Loki’s life just to take him out. He just recently got his distemper vaccine and we are all good!!! We are going to start taking him out again regularly J
Why is Loki scared of dogs?? <CAT LIKE> I have seen foxes with dogs on the internet
Loki was raised an only child so we are the only family he has, so he has not interacted with any other animal since birth. Dogs, Wolves, and Coyotes are their natural predators and he knows that so he fears them. If Loki would have been raised with a dog or a cat it would then be natural for him to be with another species.
Where does Loki sleep??
Loki has a 6ft X 7ft 5 cage setup for his den. He has food and water at all times, he has a large bin from Target as a litter-box, he has a big fluffy bed that takes up almost 1 whole cage and he had a covered litter-box converted into a cubby with a cushion in it so he can sleep in there or lay down.
How long do foxes sleep in a day??
I know Loki sleeps for more than 14 hours a day, I don't know about other foxes that might have two jobs and a family :)
How do you know what Loki does when you leave the house??
I have a nanny cam on his den which I look at the whole time I am at work and on my phone if I am not at work. I literally monitor him 100% of the time that I am not home. I wanted to know if he was frustrated or trying to get out of his cage and if he was happy or not. As soon as I leave the house he pushes his bed where he wants it be and goes to sleep. He will wake up and go to the bathroom and drink some water and go back to sleep.
Is Loki up all night because foxes are nocturnal??
Foxes mainly hunt at night when it is convenient for them, but they can switch their sleep pattern to adjust to their feedings and or adjust to their environment. I have a day job so I am not home during the day so he sleeps, if I have a night job and was home during the day it would take Loki a little bit to adjust but he would be up during the day and sleep any night
Does Loki have free roam of the house??
If we are home YES!!! The only parts of the house he does not have access to is the bedrooms. If we are not home he is in his den for his protection. Even though the house has been fox proof he will still get into trouble and we do not want him hurting himself.
Loki is always looking out the windows do you think he is sad because he is not outside?? <CAT LIKE>
NO. Loki looks out the window for predators and intruders, this is the normal behavior for a fox to sit in front of their den’s and look for predators if they are not out hunting for food. They are always on the alert and protecting their den. As I stated before he is scared of dogs and is always watching out for them. If someone comes into the property he will bark once and run to the highest ramp and observe the person to see what their intentions are. He really does not want to be outside, he is comfy in his A/C.
<NEW> How do you discipline Loki?? <CAT LIKE>
I have a couple of spray bottles with water in it to spray him with. When a fox get an attitude you have to change their thinking, the best way is to spray them.. they forget what they were mad at and you can then work with them. I put Loki in a timeout in his cage for an hour or so, depending what happened. It is OK to spray a cat, it is OK to spray a fox!!
Dose Loki cuddle with you??
No. Loki is not the cuddly type of fox, other foxes might cuddle with their owners, Loki is not like that.
Does Loki shed a lot??
YES!!!!! Loki is constantly shedding, because I have our house is constantly at 69 - 70 degrees he does not have a change in season from winter to summer, we live in Florida and it is 96+ degrees about 11 months out of the year so he does not shed his winter coat or grow one he is just constantly shedding. I vacuum once or twice a day
Does Loki smell??
Loki has a scent to him, it is more like a musk. I have 2 air ionizers around his cage and I do a full cleaning every two week. I vacuum and clean his litter every day sometimes twice a day. If you want to have a clean house you have to clean all the time no matter what type of pet you have.
Can you brush Loki and pet him??
Loki likes to be brushed and pet on his upper body, he does not like his butt or tail brushed or touched. He really likes his reas ans
Do you give Loki baths??
No!! Loki has gotten 1 bath in his whole life, when we take him to the vet every 4 – 6 months we give him a dry bath and brush him out. He is constantly shedding so nothing sticks to him and the house is at 69 - 70 degrees at all times.
Does Loki bark or make noise??
Loki is very quiet unless he is really angry then he make a KEEEEEK KEEEEEEEEK KEEEEEEEEK or gerking as it is called type of noise, he makes this creepy little giggle when he is happy and if something scares him or a stranger steps on to the property he will make this short type of bark or if he is really scared he will make this long BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKK and then runs in the opposite direction of what scared him.
What does the fox say??
Really… that was 2 years ago and it was answered in the question above.
<NEW> = UPDATED on June 29 2016
1 - I do not recommend having a fox as a pet
2 – A wild fox should be in the wild – Do not take foxes out of the wild
3 – I do not know where to get foxes
4 – Stop hunting foxes, Please stop wearing fur, Protect our planet and what area wild animals have left to survive.
If Loki can help 1 fox… what we are doing is worth it.
If Loki can help all foxes around the world…. Then we have ALL made a difference for the existence of foxes. Help us make a difference.
Share Loki, he is just one little fox trying to change the world!!!
I am starting with this because I need to get this out of the way…. These kind of people do not read very good and will lose focus if they have to scroll or try to find this section…..
<NEW> For people that are saying Loki is not happy and he should be in the wild with his own kind and running in the fields!! And It is animal abuse what I am doing to Loki...... You're WRONG!!!!
Are you an animal behaviorist?? Have you studied Foxes?? Have you interacted with Foxes?? How many foxes have you cared for?? I would say the answer to all of these questions is NO!! You have probably seen one at the zoo or one running away from you in the wild so you are now a fox expert and you got your Fox degree in a Cracker Jack box
<NEW> Here is an article from National Geographic and the heading on it reads... "Most Captive-Born Predators Die If Released" please read the article if you think he should be in the wild. Foxes have predators in the wild... Wolves and Coyotes will devour a fox in a heartbeat, foxes that are captive bred have no training on defending themselves or what to do if attacked.
Here is a quote from the article... "We wouldn't dream of taking an animal that had grown up in a zoo surrounded by humans and then put it out in the wild"
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080123-carnivores-wild_2.html
1 – Adult Foxes are solitary animals, and live alone except during mating season, so he does not want to be with his own kind, he prefers to be alone.
http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/wilderness-library/red-fox/
2 – When you see a fox running in the fields it is not playing it is hunting. As soon as a fox wakes up, it leaves the den and will run about 5 miles a day to hunt for food which is when you see then running through the fields. They will probably eat only three times a week which is why foxes in the wild are normally really thin.
With that explained…. What drives a fox????
A fox’s drive is to eat!! To survive!! To be able to eat the next day… that’s it. They do not want to be with their own kind and if their tummies are full they are happy foxes!!! You are trying to push the idea that you have of a dog or cat and imagining that into a fox’s needs or wants are.
You are totally wrong!!!!
Loki comes from over 8 generations of captive bred foxes that will not survive in the wild, even if him, his brothers and sisters, and his parents would have escaped the tiny cages they were in at the fur farm they would have died a slow and painful death by starving or eaten by other predators in less than a month. Loki does not have the proper training skillz to hunt on his own or any survival skillz to protect him against the harsh weather and mean old predators. So releasing him to the wild will be certain death for him.
Loki is happy and very well taken care of; I have changed my whole life around for him. His wellbeing is my priority #1. I am in contact on a weekly basis and friends with over 9 Sanctuary owners (Just in case something ever happens to me) around the world that handle from 2 – 15+ foxes, wolves, coyotes and they all say the same thing, Loki is one of the happiest home foxes they have ever seen. So your argument is invalid
If you do not like what I am doing… Thank you!!! you are still watching my videos and contributing :)
As Captain Jack Sparrow put it.. I might be the worst pirate you have heard of... but you HAVE heard of me!!!
So keep hating and watching :)
<NEW> How do you know Loki is 8 -9 generations of captive bred foxes??
I checked his “born on date” and “Origin” tag by his tail… all foxes have those!!
His white tipped paw… Foxes in nature do not have that type of distinguishing markings on them. It takes years and years (8 or 9+ years) of captive breeding to start displaying those types of characteristics. Why… Because of the captive breeding / domestication of foxes, they start to lose their natural ability / instinct which cause a transformation in the fox. Their legs get shorter, the ears get floppier, they wag their tails, and they lose their camouflage which causes the distinguishing markings to start appearing on them. They no longer need the skillz to hunt or the camouflage to hide because they are fed and taken care of; the same as dogs were 20,000 years ago (give or take a year or two)
<NEW> How long do foxes live for
Foxes in the wild live up to 4 – 5 years if they are really lucky, a majority will not make it past 3 years old. Out of a 6 – 10 kit litter about 2 - 4 might make it to 6 months old. The major causes of death to foxes in the wild is #1-mange, #2-predators, #3-humans, #4-Starvation Yes we beat starvation!!
**Mange is a horrible way to die (not there’s a good way) they go blind and can’t hunt or they freeze to death in the winter.
A fox in captivity can live up to 10 – 15 years and out of a 6 – 10 kit litter 6 – 7+ will make it to adulthood
Research:
Google search for “How long do foxes live in the wild”
The Fox Website: http://www.thefoxwebsite.net/ecology/ecologyfacts
Yahoo Answers: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090206114818AAwZyjd
Wilderness Classroom: http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/wilderness-library/red-fox/
Live Science: http://www.livescience.com/27168-foxes.html
*** IMPORTANT!!! Please reference this as <CAT LIKE> you will see it a lot in this document
<NEW> Foxes are called the cat like canine’s <CAT LIKE>
Foxes have a lot of cat characteristics in common with and sometimes act just like cats. From their attitudes to the way they react to certain things to the way they play. Remember this it will come up again…. So if it is OK for a cat it is OK for a fox
I want a fox, where do I get one?
No you don’t and I do not know where to get foxes.
Foxes are not dogs, foxes are not cats, you cannot compare a fox to any other animal, foxes are foxes and they will behave as such. They have similar traits as a dog or a cat but they have the thinking of a FOX!! They are not easy animals to have, they will destroy your house, they will pee on everything you love, they will steal your shoe, remote, shirt, ANYTHING and pee on it and tear it up. You cannot change a fox. Even if you have raise dogs you have no idea what you’re in store for if you get a fox. They will jump 6ft in the air and knock over the pictures you have of grandma and the kids on the walls and on the dresser. They will bite!! Did I mention they bite!! If my dog bites me I will get rid of it, well don’t get a fox. I have loved foxes all my life and I want one. Keep Looking at foxes online and save yourself the tremendous responsibility and headache you get when you have a fox. You cannot take a vacation because you cannot board a fox so you have to find someone to take care of your fox, you better own your own home because you will not be able to rent an apartment or a house with a fox unless you get lucky and find a private owner and no association. Are you planning on having a baby?? No!! Foxes do not eat babies, but he might nip at it if the baby/kid tries to pull its tail or the fox is in a bad mood. Be responsible and do your research and make sure you are committed to make a 15 year eternal member of the family. So many foxes get rehomed because of irresponsible HUMANS making bad decisions because it was a cool idea at the time. I will referencing this paragraph through this document as AA-1
<NEW> How would you describe having a fox in your life
The best way to describe a fox , is like having an 18 pound ferret, that can jump 6 feet in the air, that has the attitude of a cat, that plays like a dog, with the mentality of a raccoon, and the attention span of a squirrel and you still have 50% fox in there… NOT KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<NEW> What kind of fox is Loki??
Loki is an American Red fox.
His classification is Vulpes Vulpes Subspecies: Fulvus
** Foxes are canine’s
<NEW> My friend has a half fox half dog mix (fox/dog) and it is a really good pet
Foxes and other canines cannot mate, it is scientifically impossible for them to breed. A fox has a chromosome count of 2n=34 and dog has a chromosome count of 2n=78 nearly double that of a fox's, so they will not pair. Unless you friend works for area 51 and has done some sort of supernatural gene splicing your friend has a dog, most likely it's a Pomeranian
Where did you get Loki from??
We got Loki from a local pet store here in South Florida, the pet store got Loki from a fur farm. So he was rescued by the pet store and me, if it wasn’t for both parties Loki would have been part of a coat before his second birthday
How long have you had him and how old is he??
We got baby Loki when he was 5 weeks old and as of April 1st 2016 he is 5 years old, you can do the math.
Is Loki one of those Russian Domesticated foxes you get for $8,000 that are really rare??
No... we paid 300.00 for Loki he is more like your flea-market garage sale type of cheap fox, but he is my little flea-market fox :)
Do you need a permit for him??
Yes!! I have 2 permits. The first one is the "Personal Pet Permit" that one is to have him and take him to the vet. The second one is called the "Exhibitor" permit and that one is to be able to bring him out in public and protect the humans from him. With the exhibitor permit I have to fax in an Itinerary of where he is going to be 24 hours in advance. I have to include both of his permit numbers and the name, address and phone number of where he is going to be for the day. Even if I am going to take him to the pet store I have to fax it in 24 hours in advance.
Does Loki have his shots like a dog and is he neutered??
Yes!! Loki has all of his shots. He is on canine rabies, ferret distemper, and feline heartworm. Loki was neutered at 6 months old
Do you take him to a normal vet??
No we take him to an exotic animal vet, his vet has seen over 120 foxes and really knows what he is doing.
Is Loki microchipped??
NO.. I live in the city, if Loki ever ran away he would be destroyed before they examine for a chip or he will be hit by a car, even if I had a collar on him. He would put up so much of a fight against them that it would not matter they will destroy him. I wish that was different but it is the reality where I live at. This is why he is not allowed outside and we are so careful when he is out
<NEW> What does Loki eat??
Foxes are omnivores, They eat meat and plants (Fruits and veggies)
This is the diet I have Loki on, other fox owners might have their foxes on a different diets.
2 days of two different types of dog food mixed together (Orijen Red and Zignature)
1 day of Orijen Regional Red cat food
1 day of grilled steak or grilled chicken
Start the process over again….
He also gets carrots, apples, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, pears, mango on a daily basis, one of these a day or a mix of two with less quantity.
Loki gets anything we are eating is tiny quantities.
To clarify.. Foxes do not eat babies or your normal house hold pet, if a fox is really hungry it might go after a kitten but that would be a last resort for a fox, they are opportunistic hunters and won't go after something that is going to put up a fight and hurt them.
<NEW> How much does Loki eat??
He has a 20oz bowl in his den for food that lasts him 2 days. He has food and water accessible to him 24/7
<NEW> Is Loki taking any supplements??
Once a fox hits a certain age you should start giving them supplements to aid in the damage they caused themselves when they were young and pouncing. That takes a tool on their joints. Loki is on a quarter Life4pets joint medication tab + a quarter of a glucosamine tab + half a pet tabs vitamin on a daily basis
<NEW> How much does Loki weigh??
Loki is currently 18lbs – 05/27/2016
<NEW> Where does Loki go to the bathroom?? <CAT LIKE>
Loki had been littler trained just like a cat since he was months old; He has not had an accident since he was 2 years old. This is not the same for all foxes, Loki took to the litter very easily some foxes will not use a litter box, results will vary. Loki also likes going to the bathroom in the spare bathroom bathtub
<NEW> Does your house smell like pee and poop, because fox pee really stinks
I have to tell you but fox poop also stinks lol
Fox urine does have a very strong smell to it, which is affected by the foxes diet… If you feed it roses their pee will not smell like roses but the diet will reduce the pungent smell from the urine a bit. You have to keep a clean house if you want to have an indoor fox. I vacuum every day, I mop the floors every weekend and do a full mopping where I move all of the furniture in the living room every month. I have two Air Ionizers from Brookstone around his cage and I have “natures air sponges” throughout the house
Does Loki have an outside enclosure??
No. He is a 100% indoor fox, we live in Florida and it is normally 96 degrees with 80% humidity 11 months out of the year. Loki does not like the heat at all; he really like the A/C. He goes outside when we take him out to different places around town.
<NEW> Do you take him out for walks?? <CAT LIKE>
NO!! Loki is like a cat in this way. He is scared of dogs and hates to be in open areas. We also live in the city. Have you tried taking a cat out for a walk on a leash… what happens?? The cat starts freaking out and wants to hide under the first cat it sees and tries to hide in the bushes. Cats don’t like walks, Loki does not like walks… pretty simple J Loki starts smelling around and then starts hyperventilating and freaking out as he is walking at any little noise thinking it is a dog or a predator that is going to jump out of the bushes and drag him away or hurt him. It really stresses him out and he cannot wait to be in the house again. There is no need to walk him.
<NEW> Doesn't Loki need exercise they run around all the time in the wild??
Yes foxes need exercise... but foxes in the wild only live 3-4 years, their bodies would fall apart if they lived to be 10 - 15 years old. A A fox's body is not engineered to go live that long so having a relaxed fox looking out a window after a certain age is not a bad thing. If he was going all the time he would fall apart.
<NEW> Does Loki ever leave the house??
YES!!! Loki has been going out since he was 3 months old, we would take him out every weekend to restaurants and bars around the house. Loki has hung out more than some people have in a life time!!! Loki does not drink any alcohol when we are out because he is the designated driver J He is very well adapted to going out. **We have not taken Loki out too much for over a year, here is why…. He is on ferret distemper, they did not make the ferret distemper for over a year and Loki did not have his vaccine, we did not want to risk Loki’s life just to take him out. He just recently got his distemper vaccine and we are all good!!! We are going to start taking him out again regularly J
Why is Loki scared of dogs?? <CAT LIKE> I have seen foxes with dogs on the internet
Loki was raised an only child so we are the only family he has, so he has not interacted with any other animal since birth. Dogs, Wolves, and Coyotes are their natural predators and he knows that so he fears them. If Loki would have been raised with a dog or a cat it would then be natural for him to be with another species.
Where does Loki sleep??
Loki has a 6ft X 7ft 5 cage setup for his den. He has food and water at all times, he has a large bin from Target as a litter-box, he has a big fluffy bed that takes up almost 1 whole cage and he had a covered litter-box converted into a cubby with a cushion in it so he can sleep in there or lay down.
How long do foxes sleep in a day??
I know Loki sleeps for more than 14 hours a day, I don't know about other foxes that might have two jobs and a family :)
How do you know what Loki does when you leave the house??
I have a nanny cam on his den which I look at the whole time I am at work and on my phone if I am not at work. I literally monitor him 100% of the time that I am not home. I wanted to know if he was frustrated or trying to get out of his cage and if he was happy or not. As soon as I leave the house he pushes his bed where he wants it be and goes to sleep. He will wake up and go to the bathroom and drink some water and go back to sleep.
Is Loki up all night because foxes are nocturnal??
Foxes mainly hunt at night when it is convenient for them, but they can switch their sleep pattern to adjust to their feedings and or adjust to their environment. I have a day job so I am not home during the day so he sleeps, if I have a night job and was home during the day it would take Loki a little bit to adjust but he would be up during the day and sleep any night
Does Loki have free roam of the house??
If we are home YES!!! The only parts of the house he does not have access to is the bedrooms. If we are not home he is in his den for his protection. Even though the house has been fox proof he will still get into trouble and we do not want him hurting himself.
Loki is always looking out the windows do you think he is sad because he is not outside?? <CAT LIKE>
NO. Loki looks out the window for predators and intruders, this is the normal behavior for a fox to sit in front of their den’s and look for predators if they are not out hunting for food. They are always on the alert and protecting their den. As I stated before he is scared of dogs and is always watching out for them. If someone comes into the property he will bark once and run to the highest ramp and observe the person to see what their intentions are. He really does not want to be outside, he is comfy in his A/C.
<NEW> How do you discipline Loki?? <CAT LIKE>
I have a couple of spray bottles with water in it to spray him with. When a fox get an attitude you have to change their thinking, the best way is to spray them.. they forget what they were mad at and you can then work with them. I put Loki in a timeout in his cage for an hour or so, depending what happened. It is OK to spray a cat, it is OK to spray a fox!!
Dose Loki cuddle with you??
No. Loki is not the cuddly type of fox, other foxes might cuddle with their owners, Loki is not like that.
Does Loki shed a lot??
YES!!!!! Loki is constantly shedding, because I have our house is constantly at 69 - 70 degrees he does not have a change in season from winter to summer, we live in Florida and it is 96+ degrees about 11 months out of the year so he does not shed his winter coat or grow one he is just constantly shedding. I vacuum once or twice a day
Does Loki smell??
Loki has a scent to him, it is more like a musk. I have 2 air ionizers around his cage and I do a full cleaning every two week. I vacuum and clean his litter every day sometimes twice a day. If you want to have a clean house you have to clean all the time no matter what type of pet you have.
Can you brush Loki and pet him??
Loki likes to be brushed and pet on his upper body, he does not like his butt or tail brushed or touched. He really likes his reas ans
Do you give Loki baths??
No!! Loki has gotten 1 bath in his whole life, when we take him to the vet every 4 – 6 months we give him a dry bath and brush him out. He is constantly shedding so nothing sticks to him and the house is at 69 - 70 degrees at all times.
Does Loki bark or make noise??
Loki is very quiet unless he is really angry then he make a KEEEEEK KEEEEEEEEK KEEEEEEEEK or gerking as it is called type of noise, he makes this creepy little giggle when he is happy and if something scares him or a stranger steps on to the property he will make this short type of bark or if he is really scared he will make this long BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKK and then runs in the opposite direction of what scared him.
What does the fox say??
Really… that was 2 years ago and it was answered in the question above.