Rabid fox vs barn cat

[Brucepierce]

So we had what we believe was a rabid fox checking out my neighbors coop the same day my cat was last seen...he was a very savvy outdoor male house cat, great at hunting...
But the fox looked kind of mangy and very hungry, is it likely my boy became prey?

 

[sourland]

Fox will kill and eat cats. If desperate enough the fox may have taken your cat.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

A rabid fox will likely not kill or eat anything, at least not after it becomes symptomatic or starts displaying signs of rabies.
A hungry, mangy, desperate, fox however is another matter. Both foxes, coyotes, and hawks have a taste for pet cats.

BTY, what sex and how old is the cat in question? Oops, what I meant to ask is has your tom cat been neutered?
If he is an intact male cat he is more likely off somewhere tom catting, and he'll be home by and by.

 

[zazouse]

In-tack males are more likely to be taken by bobcats around my place, foxes,coons,possums and cats get along OK even when eating.

 

[sourland]

Bobcats and coyotes in my experience actively hunt cats. Fox only do so if desperate.

 

[bobbi-j]

Just curious - what lead you to believe the fox is rabid?

 

[Brucepierce]

The fox was just mangy looking...it's fur was not normal , it seemed a bit "patchy"... And it was mid day...so all us suburb type folk immediately go to "rabid"....it could have been down on his luck...the cat was a 2yr old neutered male...came home every morning to lay in my window and soak up some sun and sleep for a bunch of hours then out for the night...any weather. The cat never missed a day of coming home to sleep...it's been almost a month now that he's been missing. Thaks for your comments.
Bruce

 

[War Chicken]

Mangy-looking fox probably has...mange which is caused by mites not rabies. Coming around during the day is also no diagnosis of rabies.

 

[bobbi-j]

Mangy-looking fox probably has...mange which is caused by mites not rabies. Coming around during the day is also no diagnosis of rabies.

Agreed - could be it was out during the day because it was sick - with mange. (It's quite common in fox and coyotes around here.) It was quite possibly looking for an easy meal, or looking for food without having to deal with competition.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

In my opinion the main reason that cats are said to have 9 lives is because they so often turn up again after they have been given up for dead.
Good luck.