These are observations I made about something that happened behind my flat in Leeds in 2000. It may not answer your question but the observation still stands....

"There appears to be a number of urban foxes (Vulpes vulpes) that frequent this area. The playing fields of *** and *** schools provide a thoroughfare that is transited regularly by at least three foxes (two, often as a pair). They walk through the field, adjacent to the rear of the local houses, and can be seen urinating on the mole hills that are also abundant. More likely they are seen in the evening - at least this has been the case during July/August - around 9.00 PM, but have been observed in the day time too.

On the evening of 19th August 2000, at approximately 9.00 PM, a single fox was seen to enter the field and began to urinate on/mark the mole hills in its usual fashion. It then moved across and sat under a large hawthorn. Very soon after one of the resident cats, from the nearby house adjacent to the field, approached the hawthorn (this particular cat has a rather audible bell around its collar that can be heard from some distance). The fox did not appear to hear its approach but the cat was close enough to observe the fox.

The cat approached very stealthily. The fox moved off in the opposite direction, seemingly unawares of the cats presence, and the cat then moved to where the fox had been sat and began sniffing the surrounding area.

A couple of minutes passed and then the fox turned round and began returning to the hawthorn. Only then did the fox notice the cat and the two of them sat staring at each other from about two metres away. This went on for approximately two minutes. The cat then got up and made a sudden move toward the fox. The fox ran off, with no sign of aggression whatsoever, and the cat quickly sat down again.

Another, larger, fox entered the field from the opposite side of where the first one had appeared. They moved toward each other and began rubbing their muzzles against each other. Both sniffed the other and the two started moving into a far corner of the field, searching the ground and sniffing it as they went.

At the same time another cat was seen to enter the field and the foxes noticed it immediately. It was larger than the first cat, and all white, so was not easily missed against the green background. The foxes both split up and approached this cat on either flank. As they got within two metres the cat stood upright on its legs, fluffed up its fur (appearing to grow almost to twice its original size), and the foxes fled immediately away. They quickly rejoined each other, about 20 metres behind the cat, but made no further approaches. The cat remained still, in the previously described posture, for about three minutes, and then walked away in the opposite direction of the foxes.

The foxes then went around the field and continued 'foraging' around for some time before sight of them was eventually lost.

This left me wondering if cats are actually dominant to urban foxes? I would have thought the opposite as although I know cats will see a dog off they more usually run away from them. It could well be that urban foxes are more aware of cats in this environment, so try to avoid them, but I was most surprised to see that even two of them were no match for the cats threat display. Indeed, would cats be prey for foxes? I simply have no idea."

Taken straight off my animal behaviour journal

mp