Fennec Foxes as Housepets
March 26, 2009 by Heather R.
Filed under Pets
Some days just call for a hit of cuteness, and today is definitely one of those days. In this video, the fastidious kitty is having a great time grooming a Fennec Fox. As much as my cats like to focus on each others’ ears when cleaning, I’d say this cat is in grooming heaven.
Fennec Foxes are native to the Sahara Desert of North Africa and usually weigh up to three pounds. Their big ears are their most distinguishable feature and actually help to dissipate the heat, pretty handy when you live in the desert!
Oddly enough, the Fennec is the only fox that can be kept as a pet. Though it’d be a stretch to say they’re domesticated, there are breeders in the US and Canada and a pretty large owner community in both countries.
They’re usually pretty friendly toward other household pets and have a lot of energy. The legality of owning them varies by state and/or jurisdiction, though, and since they’re considered an exotic breed many vets will not treat them.
Fennecs require a lot of specialized care with their diet and natural habits, and will often hide food in caches around the house. They’re also said to not be able to be housebroken (ack!).
As cute and sweet as these little guys are I’ll just say it’s probably a good thing they’re not legal in my state!
[image: flickr]
