Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is a desert fox, a cautious and secretive inhabitant. The animal got its name from the Arabic fenek, which means “fox”. However, not all zoologists classify the fennec fox as a genus of foxes, separating it into a special genus - “Fennecus”. At the same time, such significant differences with foxes as a smaller number of chromosomes, the absence of musk glands and sociality are indicated.

The largest population of these amazing animals inhabits the central Sahara. They are also found from northern Morocco to the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, and in the south to Chad, Sudan and Niger.

What does a fennec fox look like?

Fenech is the smallest representative of the fox family. The dimensions of an adult individual, including a long (up to 30 cm) fluffy tail, are no more than 70 cm, height at the withers is 18-20 cm. At the same time, the animal weighs only about one and a half kilograms.

But it is not its size, but its ears that amazes the fennec at the first glance. These disproportionately huge ears (up to 15 cm) on a small head, large shiny eyes and a sharp, thin muzzle, lined with long black mustaches, give the whole fox an extraordinary strange looking. The ears are so mobile, they take on such diverse shapes that with each new position it seems that you see a new animal in front of you. Without his amazing ears, the fennec would probably lose half of his charm. The ears of a miniature fox, which hear the slightest rustle of a bird or insect at a distance, cannot tolerate sharp sounds.

Since the fennec cat does not have sweat glands and cannot breathe intermittently like a dog, it needs to somehow cool its body. And for this purpose the extensive surface of the ears serves. Since the animal does not sweat, it does not give off a drop of precious moisture. Thus, he manages to be content with the liquid contained in the food. But in places where there are watering holes, he drinks like other animals.

Interesting fact: many desert inhabitants have large ears, for example, the sand cat, long-eared hedgehog or black-tailed hare. Disproportionately large ears protect animals from overheating.

All other parts of the Fennec's body are very beautiful and proportional. The animal's thin legs, like those of all desert animals, will stand up for themselves and compete with the fastest animals in running. Even the Egyptian jerboa, despite all its speed, often falls on the sharp teeth of a small predator. And this applies equally to his ability to sneak up and to the speed of his movements. The vast expanses of the desert, as well as the scarcity of its plant and animal life, require good, tireless legs. And such legs are especially needed for predators! They need not only to run around huge spaces each time, but to be able to catch up with their prey. And the fennec's legs give him the opportunity to exist and reproduce in sandy deserts. The fox's feet are covered with fur, which allows it to move silently across the hot sand.

The body, which is quite thick at first glance, is actually very small and light. It appears this way only because of its long, thick coat of light sand color. On the light muzzle, the eyes and nose are black.

The fennec's tail, no less fluffy than our tail, serves as a good decoration for the entire figurine of the animal.

Lifestyle of a miniature fox in nature

In deserts, the fennec tries to stay in thickets of grass and other low-growing vegetation. He lives in holes. The place for them is chosen where the roots of the plants bind the sandy soil. Here the animal digs long passages in various directions. In the middle of these crossing passages, he makes a lair for himself. The animal loves comfort and warmth and therefore lines its lair with dry herbs, hair and even feathers. In such a hole he is safe from his enemies.

The fennec fox, like most other desert inhabitants, prefers the cool to the heat. He spends the whole day in his nest and only in exceptional cases leaves the hole before dusk. During the scorching heat, it’s stuffy even underground. The dhota from the hot sand penetrates there too. The fennec is impatiently waiting for the dazzling shine of the sun, reflected by millions of sparkles in grains of sand, to be replaced by the same sparkles in the dark blue sky of the south. By night the heat is replaced by coolness, and sometimes very significant. Then, here and there in the silent desert, silent animal life awakens. Foxes peep out of their holes, move their ears, sniff the air, and little by little they lean out of the hole: it’s time to hunt.

How does a fennec fox hunt?

Although desert foxes live in families, they, like their relatives, prefer to hunt alone. During the hunt, the animal completely relies on its hearing, sight and smell. These same feelings serve the Fennec to warn of danger.

Our common fox, the arctic fox or arctic fox, the corsac fox of the steppes of Asia, the gray American fox, the broad-nosed fox of southern Africa - they all have almost the same habits. In most cases, fox hunting comes down to searching for prey by smell and then hiding it.

And the fennec's keen hearing, vision and sense of smell allow him to hunt not only birds, animals, but even insects. His silent, creeping step allows him to catch the most distant, quietest sounds on the move. If some air vibration gets into his ears, they expand towards the noise. The desert fox pauses for a moment and then begins to approach even more cautiously in the direction of the noise. Her eyes pierce the thick darkness of the desert. From a distance she can see a sleeping hazel grouse (steppe pigeon), a lark or even a fat locust. He eats her too. True, with less pleasure than a bird or animal, but still he will not pass by if he hears its rustling. In the desert you have to put up with everything; there is a lot of sand, stones and heat, but not food and drink.

For all the tirelessness of the fennec, for all the acuteness of his feelings, the enormous space over which the rare animal kingdom of the desert is scattered creates great difficulties for the animal. You can drive in the Sahara for hours, whole days, and not see a single bird. And this rarity of the population serves as the best protection against enemies. It is not so easy and not so often that the fenech manages to feast on the hot blood of sandgrouses or larks. But the hazel grouse is a desirable prey for the fennec. If an animal senses with its nose that it has crossed the trail of a hazel grouse, it will immediately sniff out the entire place and follow the subtle scent that remains from this bird’s daytime walk. There is nothing here to distract the attention of this amazing bloodhound! The desert fox will persistently follow the footsteps of the hazel grouse right up to its overnight stay or the place from which it flew away. This kind of failure often happens. But she does not discourage the fennec. It happens that during these searches the wind will carry the scent of sandgrouse sleeping nearby, and then the same animal’s nose will lead straight to the desired prey. By smell, the desert fox not only finds sandgrouse, but even desert larks and common chickadees. It happens that these small birds also fall on the fennec's teeth. They are identified not only by their smell, but sometimes also by the noise they make in their sleep when they change position, or by an involuntary cry, song, or flapping of wings. Once any noise from the movement of the bird fell into the huge ears of the fennec fox, the bird died.

Fenech will lower his body to the ground and will slowly, for a long time, sneak towards the noise. From afar, his eyes will notice somewhere under a bush the tiny figure of a bird, which, unaware of the danger, continues to sleep serenely. The fenech will choose the bush or depression closest to it in order to grab its victim in its teeth in one leap. But he applies this technique of hiding prey to sleeping birds. He hunts jerboas and voles differently. Here he not only hides, but also chases. The Saharan vole and jerboa, like the fennec fox, are nocturnal animals. They also have keen hearing and keen eyes. The animal does not always manage to take them by surprise. However, the fox often catches the jerboa, despite its amazing jumps. The whole thing is spoiled for the jerboa by his hare-like ability to jump in different directions to listen to the enemy. But this technique with the fennec tree does a disservice to the jerboa. The desert fox carefully watches the jumps and runs straight to the place where the jerboa lands. From random jumping and fear, the jerboa soon gets tired and becomes prey to the less dexterous, but more cunning fennec.

It is much easier for the fennec to deal with voles. They have only one salvation: to hide under the roots or crawl into burrows. But this does not save much from a persistent pursuer. The animal digs shallow holes, and a small vole ends up in its stomach.

Family life of fennecs

Foxes are social animals and live in family groups of ten individuals in branched burrows. Clans typically consist of one married couple, their immature offspring, and sometimes several older children. It happens that several families live in one den.

Desert chanterelles breed once a year. Pregnancy lasts about two months, and in March-April, from two to six cubs are born. Newborns weigh only about 50 grams, their body is covered with light down. white. While the female feeds the offspring, the male brings her food. Babies feed on mother's milk for two to three months, but starting from the fourth week of life they begin to slowly get accustomed to solid food. The older the puppies become, the more fiercely they fight for a piece of food. Already at the end of summer, young animals begin to hunt alone, and by nine months they become independent. Often young fennec cats stay with their parents and help raise new offspring.

Fenech's enemies

However, the fennec itself sometimes, during a hunt, becomes a victim of hyenas, caracals, and sometimes leopards, jackals and eagle owls. The animal has the only way to escape from all these predators: to bury itself in the sand, or even better, to climb into its own or someone else’s hole. Burrowing in the sand is common for many desert animals and lizards; The fennec also disappears in front of the eyes of the enemies pursuing him. But he does not always succeed in deceiving hyenas, jackals and people. Hyenas and jackals will not be deceived by their instincts, and they will dig up the animal. In the same way, it is not difficult for a person to rake out a layer of sand and remove the fennec. A much safer way to save the desert fox is in its burrows, where it is safe from all its enemies, with the possible exception of the terrible asp - a snake that terrifies not only animals, but also people.

fennec fox becoming increasingly popular as a pet. What kind of animal is the fennec fox and is it possible to keep a fennec fox at home?

Fennec fox - who is it?

The fennec fox is probably the most amazing representative of the genus of foxes in the canine family.

The name "Fennec" translates as "fox" (Arabic word fanak). However, the scientific name of this animal is Vulpes zerda, that is, literally, “dry fox.” This gives a clue as to the fennec's habitat. These animals live in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa.

Scientists are still arguing about whether the fennec cat can be called a fox. After all, the behavior and structure of the fennec fox differs from other types of foxes. Even the number of chromosomes is different: the fennec fox has 32 pairs of chromosomes, while other fox species have 35 to 39. The fennec fox does not have the musk glands characteristic of a fox. And unlike foxes, which live alone, fennec foxes are social animals. Therefore, a number of scientists have identified the fennec tree as a separate genus "Fennecus".

What does fennec look like?

Fennec fox is a small animal, a fox, smaller in size than a domestic cat. The height at the withers of the fennec is from 18 to 22 cm, the body length is from 30 to 40 cm, the tail reaches a length of 30 cm. The fennec weighs no more than 1.5 kg.

The fennec muzzle is pointed and short. The eyes of this fox are quite large.

The fennec cat's ears are its distinctive feature. The fennec fox has the largest ears relative to the size of its head among predators - the fennec's ears can reach a length of 15 cm. Such ears are not a luxury; the animal is forced to catch the slightest rustle in order not to miss its prey - small animals and insects. In addition, the fennec's large ears are excellent for thermoregulation and remove excess heat from the little fox's body, which is necessary in a desert climate.

The fennec's feet are covered with fur, and thanks to this, the animal runs across the hot desert sands silently and easily.

Fennec cats have small teeth.

The fennec cat's fur is soft and thick.

The fennec's color allows it to blend in with the sand: the fennec's fur is fawn or reddish on top and white below. The young fennec fox is almost white. The tip of the fluffy tail is black.

Like other wild foxes, the fennec fox does not have sweat glands.

The fennec fox can endure thirst for a long time if it is possible to obtain liquid from food. Fennec's kidneys work in such a way that they do not allow dehydration for a long time.

In nature, the fenech chooses sparse bushes or thickets of grass, where it finds both food and shelter. The fennec lives in a hole, which is equipped with many secret passages.

Fenechs form family groups (up to 10 animals). However, they go out hunting one at a time.

The fennec fox jumps well: up to 120 cm forward and up to 70 cm up.

Can we say that the domestic fennec is an interesting pet?

If you create good conditions for the fenech, he can become a rather interesting pet, smart and affectionate. However, keeping a fennec cat at home is quite difficult, since it is still a wild animal and not a pet.

Success in taming a fennec cat depends on the age at which it came to you. It is best to purchase a fennec cat at the age of 6 - 9 months (before puberty).

At first, give your pet maximum attention, communicate with him and feed him by hand. However, avoid sudden movements and loud sounds - the fennec fox is very sensitive and timid.

How does Fenech behave at home?

A tame fennec at home behaves friendly, playful and inquisitive. The fennec fox loves to sleep next to its owner or sit in his arms.

Fenech at home is a very active animal, almost all the time looking for something, running, and will easily jump onto a bedside table, sofa or computer desk. So it’s better not to leave a cup of tea or coffee near your laptop!

Fenech is very talkative: he whines, snorts, barks, grumbles and howls. Moreover, it voices not only during the day, but also at night - you need to know about this before getting such a pet.

The fennec fox won't refuse to play pranks either. For example, if he finds a bag of sugar or cereal, he will be delighted and instantly take the contents to every corner.

Please also note that all electrical wires will have to be hidden - the fenech likes to chew them.

In the photo: fennec at home

How does the fennec fox get along with other animals and with children?

Some owners say that a fennec cat and a cat can easily become friends and even play together. However, small animals can provoke aggression in the fennec fox. In addition, when living together with other animals, you need to take into account the timidity of the fennec fox. You should not stress your existing animals and your new pet if you are not sure that they will get along.

And no matter how much effort you make to tame a fennec cat, it is still not a dog. So you shouldn’t bring a fennec into a family with small children.

Is it possible to walk with a fennec cat?

If you train your fennec cat to take walks, he will be happy to keep you company. However, do not forget that the fennec fox is a heat-loving and gentle animal, for which hypothermia can be deadly. Therefore, in cold autumn, winter and the first half of spring, it is better to refrain from walking with a fennec.

It is better to lead a fennec cat not in a collar, but on a harness. A fennec fox can wriggle out of a collar and run away, and in addition, any accidental, even weak, tug on the leash in this case can cause injury to the cervical spine or larynx.

When walking with a fennec cat, you will have to be vigilant - oncoming dogs may show aggression.

It is better to walk with the fennec early in the morning and late in the evening - this way you will be in unison with the natural biorhythm of the fox.

There is an opinion that the fenech is the only representative of the fox genus that can be kept at home. But a breed of domestic foxes has already been bred, which also live in families.

Nevertheless, it is the keeping of fennec at home, although it has not yet become commonplace, that is gaining more and more popularity. However, is it easy to keep a fennec fox at home?

The domestic fennec fox is not as easy an animal to keep as some people think.

First of all, fennec is a nocturnal animal. This means that he is awake while we are sleeping, running around and making noise, causing a lot of anxiety.

Secondly, the fennec is neither a dog nor a cat; it is not easy to raise him and it is not always easy to accustom him to a diaper or litter box. At the same time, the fennec fox does not smell like violets.

Thirdly, the fennec will not live in a cramped cage. He needs an enclosure or a separate room (and it must be heated).

The floor in the room where the fennec fox lives should be covered with sand or blankets should be provided for the pet’s use so that the animal can dig holes and bury itself.

You will have to maintain a temperature of +20 degrees or higher. If it gets colder, the fennec will quickly catch a cold. And a fennec cold often ends in death.

In addition, it must be taken into account that only a few veterinarians are willing to advise on the health of exotic animals such as the fennec fox. And it is very likely that if your pet gets sick, you will have no one to turn to for help.

Therefore, before deciding to keep a fennec fox at home, you should once again weigh the pros and cons.

What to feed your fennec cat?

Many potential owners are wondering “what to feed a fennec cat at home.” To find the answer, you need to consider that in natural conditions the fennec fox is almost omnivorous. Fenech feeds on insects, small vertebrates, bird eggs, fruits and roots of plants, and does not disdain carrion.

So at home, the diet of a fennec fox is similar to that of a small dog.

Fenech can be fed:

• Meat (lamb, rabbit, veal, chicken).
• Fish (boneless, boiled).
• Vegetables (boiled).
• Fruits (raw).

Fennec cat lifespan

The average lifespan of a fennec in nature is about 12 years. At home, the fennec fox usually lives 10 - 13 years, but with good care it can live up to 15 years.

How much does a fennec fox cost?

The fennec fox is a rare animal, so its cost is quite high. In Russia, a home fennec costs 65 - 200 thousand rubles.

And even despite the high cost, it is not easy to buy a fennec both in Belarus and in Russia, so these animals are often brought from America or Western Europe. But if you choose this option, be careful and use the services of a specialist: you need to know the rules for the export and import of such animals, prepare the necessary package of documents and make sure that the fennec fox is healthy.

However, purchasing a fennec fox is only a small part of the cost of owning a fennec fox. It is necessary to create conditions for the pet that are close to natural. Otherwise, your furniture and other property will suffer, and living together with a fennec cat will turn into a living hell for both you and the animal.

• The most famous fennec fox is the same fox from “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It is he who owns the phrases “You are responsible for those you have tamed” and “Only the heart is vigilant - you cannot see the most important thing with your eyes.”
• In Algeria, the fennec fox is revered, where the fennec fox is the national animal. Even the football team of this country is called “Fennecs”. In addition, the image of a fennec fox adorns the Algerian ¼ dinar coin.
• The fennec fox also symbolizes the ecology of Tunisia, and in every city you will find an image of a fennec fox dressed in blue and white.
• Fennec is the codename and logo of Firefox for mobile.
• The popularity of the fennec cat as a pet jumped sharply after the appearance of the cartoon Zootopia.
• Mentions of the fennec are found in the following works:
• Mine Reid "Young Hunters" (although there is no fennec fox in Kalhari).
• Henri Troyat "The Crash" and "City of Lions".
• Antoine de Saint-Exupéry "Planet of Men".
• Felix Krivin "Fennec Fox".
• Sergey Lukyanenko “Transparent stained glass windows”.
• Frank Herbert "Dune".

In the photo: fennec

The fennec animal is a dwarf fox whose natural habitat is the African desert. Lovers of unusual pets keep big-eared fox at home. Thanks to its small size, it easily gets along even in a city apartment, but requires proper care. In size, the little fox is inferior even to a domestic cat.

The cost of a domestic fennec fox starts from 25,000 rubles. She gets along well in a warm house and does not cause much trouble for the owner. So how to care for a fennec fox at home and what to feed it?

Features of the fennec fox

The dimensions of the dwarf fox are as follows:

• height - about 20 cm;
• body length - approximately 40 cm;
• weight - only 1.5 kg.

The muzzle is short and sharp, and the eyes and ears are large in proportion to the size of the head. The length of the ears is about 15 cm. In its natural habitat, the ears help the fennec cat to hunt insects and lizards. During the hot season, heat is lost through the ears. In the dark, the fennec cat's eyes glow red as she the retina is specific and designed for night hunting.

The fur of the big-eared fox is thick, and the color blends with environment(the back is red and the belly is white). The tail is dark and slightly fluffy at the tip. Main feature dwarf fox is considered her jumping ability. She can jump a meter forward and 70 cm in height, making her an unrivaled hunter. The big-eared fox goes hunting at night, and during the day it hides from the scorching desert sun in holes that it digs itself. In one night, a fennec can even dig for itself six-meter hole. Under the ground, foxes make several branches so that in case of danger they can quickly hide from the enemy.

The big-eared fox is omnivorous and sometimes digs up food even from underground. It feeds mainly on lizards, insects and eggs. There are also root vegetables and carrion. It tolerates thirst well and compensates for the lack of water with liquid contained in food. Sometimes stocks up.

Fennecs live large families- up to 10 individuals, where 2 are parents and the rest are cubs of different generations. Over time, the foxes are divided into several small families, and communicate with each other using an unusual set of sounds.

Gallery: fennec fox (25 photos)

Natural habitat

This unusual animal is most common in the central part of the Sahara Desert. The fox also lives in Algeria, Libya and Egypt. The big-eared fox can also be found in Niger, Mauritania and Tunisia.

The animal prefers to live in hot deserts, hiding from possible ill-wishers and the scorching sun in thickets of dry grass and bushes. In nature, the fennec prefers to live away from people, and if a person settles nearby, then she quickly changes her place of residence, going further away.

Reproduction and lifespan

Foxes have offspring once a year. For the second time in a year, babies can be born only if the babies from the first batch died. Mating games for foxes begin in the middle of winter, but estrus for females lasts only 2 days. Fennec cats are monogamous and form pairs for a long time.

Each pair of individuals assigns a separate area to itself. During the first few weeks, males are aggressive and actively mark their territory. Females signal to males that they are ready to mate by sharply moving their tails to the side.

Females carry their cubs for about 2 months.. With the onset of spring or a little later, about 6 newborn fennec foxes are born. Babies are born helpless and blind. Their weight is only 50 grams, and their body is covered with a small cream-colored fluff. Their eyes open a couple of weeks after birth. The initially folded ears unfold and stand upright. Ears grow very rapidly and soon after the birth of the cubs, they acquire a full-fledged appearance.

From newborn babies, right up to the eruption of their eyes, the female does not leave a single step. A caring mother fox does not allow even the male to approach her cubs. The female is extremely aggressive and the male only pushes food into her hole without entering it.

Month-old fox cubs emerge from the burrow and begin to explore the surrounding area. At first they do not go far from their mother and mink, but after reaching 3 months they begin to travel independently over longer distances. It is at this age that the mother stops feeding her cubs milk.

9 months after birth, foxes are ready to mate and live independently in the desert. Some individuals leave and build their own clans, while others remain with their parents and continue their family, helping each other in raising their young.

In the natural environment The lifespan of fennec cats is very short - a maximum of 7 years. At home, funny foxes live much longer - up to 20 years on average.

Difficulties of keeping an animal at home

Breeding these animals at home is quite simple. They quickly get used to new conditions and people. With appropriate upbringing, a fennec baby grows up to be a smart and affectionate pet.

It is advisable to purchase a special large cage or a separate room for the fox. Of course, in a small apartment this will be very problematic and therefore it is not advisable to have a pet in one. Fennec foxes are wild animals and need free personal space.

The floor in the enclosure must be covered with a thick layer of sand. so that the pet can dig minks. If this is not done, then the fox, following its instincts, will begin to dig everything. The main difficulty of keeping a fennec cat at home is teaching it to relieve itself in a designated place. As a rule, foxes relieve themselves right in the enclosure, and a terrible smell spreads through the apartment. Therefore, it is necessary to make every effort to still teach the fennec to go to the tray.

It will be difficult for the owners and it will be necessary to treat the pet if it gets sick. Despite the fact that bat-eared foxes get sick quite rarely, few veterinarians will be able to help them if necessary.

What to feed your fennec cat?

The animal is not particularly picky when it comes to food and eats almost everything that its owners offer. The predatory fox naturally gives preference to meat. Your pet rarely drinks water, but a bowl filled with it should always be freely available.

At home, you can feed your unusual pet with the following products:

• pieces of meat;
• live food (grasshoppers, mice, lizards);
• milk products;
• eggs;
• fish.

You can also occasionally feed your fenech a variety of cereals if they suit his taste. In any case, the diet for the animal must be compiled based on its taste preferences.

Nowadays, you won’t surprise anyone by purchasing an exotic or wild animal. Besides, fennec fox She is very flexible in character and has a small size, which makes it easy to own such an animal. Of course, buying this type is incredibly difficult, but for those who want it, nothing is impossible for them! Look for your pet in specialized nurseries, but not in markets.

Fennec Fox Habitat

Miniature fox lives in deserts, for example, in northern Africa, in Morocco. Mostly, fennec inhabits the Sahara Desert. Also in many other countries: Egypt, Tunisia, Niger, Libya, Chad, Algeria, Mauritania, Sudan, Mali and the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas.

Description of the fennec fox

Miniature fox height at the withers up to 22 cm and length body no more than 40 cm and weight 1.5 kg. In fact, much smaller than a cat, that's amazing, isn't it? The only thing that fennec really big - it's his ears. Fennecs very affectionate and sociable. They are large and almond shaped eyes, head medium size with a convex forehead, muzzle elongated and nose small. Tail long, fluffy and beautiful up to 30 cm. Wool long sand or red color.

FOOD AND CONTENT OF THE FENEC FOX

What to feed a fennec fox

Concerning nutrition, then you won’t have any problems here. Fenech Can feed vegetables and fruits, meat and fish, eggs. It is advisable to divide meals into 2 times: morning and evening. You may need vitamins, but here you need to consult the breeder.

fennec– active and playful fox at night, which is not very convenient. He likes to dig and dig for things, and you may lose your furniture. Therefore, the best solution is to purchase a good and large enough cage where the fenech will sleep and not disturb your sleep. After all, not everyone can afford to make an enclosure or provide their pet with a separate room.
By the way, fennecs timid, try not to make sudden movements. Don't forget to take him for a walk in nature from time to time. You can get used to a leash from a young age. Toys too fox necessary to have something to do in your absence. In good conditions, fennec fox can live from 10 years and more, but it needs to be kept warm, as it is prone to colds from drafts.

VIDEO: INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE FENECH FOX

IN THIS VIDEO YOU CAN SEE WHAT A FENECH FOX LOOKS LIKE AND FIND OUT INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HER

IN Lately The domestic Fennec fox began to spread quite quickly in city apartments. Formally, this animal belongs to the same family as dogs, but in size and lifestyle it is a bit like a cat. Before you get one, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the features of caring for, raising and feeding a fox.

In size, the domestic fennec fox is even smaller than an ordinary cat:

• height at withers up to 22 cm;
• body length 35-42 cm;
• The length of the tail is almost the same - up to 30 cm.

The weight of the animal is about one and a half kilograms. With such miniature sizes, the fennec has very large ears, which reach almost half the length of the body (up to 15-17 cm). The coat has pale yellow and milky shades, is mostly fluffy, soft, and pleasant to the touch. The fennec cat has small teeth.

In its natural environment, the fox is most common in the Sahara, as well as in the Arabian and Sinai Peninsulas, in many areas of Chad, Niger and Sudan.

Interesting. It is the ears that give the fennec a unique, original look. appearance. At the same time, such a size is justified from the point of view of the animal’s lifestyle: in the wild, this fox feeds on insects. To hear their slightest rustle, you need very large ears.

Features of keeping at home

It is acceptable to keep a Fenech at home, but it is necessary to raise the animal so that it clearly knows the hierarchy. In captivity, foxes only live in packs, so with the right approach, they will understand what the hierarchy is and become very obedient.

However, the domestication process is not the main problem.

Difficulties in keeping are also associated with the characteristics of the animal’s lifestyle:

1. First of all, your fennec cat needs to be toilet trained. Ideally, he only goes to the litter box, but raising a fox is sometimes very difficult.
2. In terms of veterinary care, vaccination and other important measures, there is also a problem - after all, although the fenech belongs to the canine family (like dogs), it is difficult to find a veterinarian for them.
3. The fox loves to dig holes - she needs to build a fairly large cage with sand or even separate a room so that she feels like she is in a natural environment.

Otherwise, care is similar to keeping a regular dwarf dog. The only difference is that it is important to go for walks with this animal all the time, but at the same time it is better to train it to the litter box, because the fenech goes to the toilet quite often due to its increased metabolism. At the same time, you should not walk with the animal in winter - the fox can catch a cold and even die.

Attention. The cost of a fennec tree ranges from 40,000 to 180,000 rubles.

Feeding diet for fennec cats

In the wild, the fennec is omnivorous, and mainly obtains food from sand and soil, digging it out with its paws. The usual diet is insects and small invertebrates.

And at home, the fennec fox is fed the following foods:

• raw meat (beef, chicken fillet);
• offal and fish - once a week as a replacement for meat;
• vegetables - daily;
• fermented milk, grain products - once a week;
• eggs - can be fed weekly with boiled chicken or 3 quail eggs;
• Figs and dates are the favorite delicacy of the domestic fox, because they are accustomed to eating these fruits in natural conditions.

You can also switch to regular dog food. But it is still advisable to feed them with fresh vegetables and fruits every day.

Fenech can go without water for a long time because it extracts moisture from vegetables, fruits and insects. Still, it’s better to put a small container - the fox can drink from there.