The fennec fox is a small nocturnal fox native to the Sahara Desert and other arid regions of Northern Africa, Southern Asia, and Southern Europe. They are known as fennec or Fennecus in almost every other part of the world but America. However, thanks to viral videos on social media, this little cutie has suddenly become one of the most popular exotic pets among young people in North America. Even though the fennec fox is not an easy pet to take care of or handle, they are absolutely awesome and adorable animals that you should consider before getting a cat or a dog as your next pet. Let’s take a look at why.
They are very fluffy!
One of the first things that you will notice about these little cuties is their amazing, luxurious fur. The fennec fox has both an undercoat and an outer layer of fur, which allows it to survive both freezing cold and blistering hot desert climates. The fennec fox’s fur is fluffier and thicker than the fur of the average domestic cat and dog, which is why many people want to cuddle with and pet these little guys all the time. Fennec foxes shed their fur once a year, just like most other animals, but theirs seems to just fall out of their fur, unlike with other species where it needs to be actively removed. The best part is you can actually use fennec fox fur to make a pair of luxury mittens or a scarf. You’ll need to go online and search for “fennec fox fur” to find out where you can get these made.
Their eyes are enormous!
When you hold or pet a fennec fox, the first thing you will notice is its spectacular eyes. These little guys have the largest eyes relative to their body size of almost any other animal. Not only are their eyes huge, but they are also very expressive. You can see every single emotion a fennec fox feels in their expressive eyes. Fennec foxes can see a lot better at night than you can, however, they are very near-sighted during the day, making it difficult for them to read a book or watch TV without getting very close to the screen. Their huge eyes are also used to regulate their body temperature, meaning that when it’s very hot outside, their eyes will open really wide to help them stay cool by letting more blood flow to the surface of their skin. When it’s cold, their eyes will be closed almost completely to help reduce blood flow to the skin and keep their bodies warm. Fennec foxes are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night, which means they will be easier to handle and pet during the night when you have the lights off.
They have a cute little face with big ears.
Another thing that is unique about the fennec fox is its face and the big ears that are characteristic of this species. Fennec foxes have round faces with large, bat-like ears that are very expressive. Their ears are so huge that they can actually wrap them around their entire bodies when they are cold, which is a really cute and funny sight to see. Fennec foxes use their big, expressive ears to regulate their body temperature just like their large eyes. When it’s cold, the fox’s ears will be closed, and when it’s hot, their ears will be open to let more blood flow to the surface of their bodies.
They live only on meat.
Fennec foxes are carnivores who are designed to eat solely meat. This is why you should never, under any circumstances, give them a vegetarian diet. They are very difficult to house train, as they have a very sensitive gastrointestinal tract, which makes them highly susceptible to dietary diseases like diarrhea. This is why it is of utmost importance that you feed your fennec fox a healthy, high-quality meat diet, such as that found in Royal Canin fennec fox kibble. Foxes aren’t picky about what meat they eat, which means that you can feed them pretty much any type of meat, including chicken, beef, lamb, fish, and even organ meat such as liver, kidneys, and hearts. You can even feed your fennec fox roadkill or fresh carcasses that the fox has caught, such as rabbits and small rodents, although you will likely need a permit to do so in most places, depending on the laws in your area.
The fennec fox does not smell anywhere near as bad as you might think.
When you first open up the box and take your fennec fox out of it, you might worry that they smell bad since they are desert animals, and you might have heard that foxes smell terrible. Fennec foxes have a very distinct but not unpleasant smell to them that you will quickly get used to when handling them. They are clean animals and will use a litter box like a cat and groom themselves like a cat as well, meaning you will rarely have to clean up after them unless you want to. Fennec foxes are very clean and hygienic animals that will keep their living spaces very clean as well, so you will rarely have to do any cleaning up after your fennec fox either.
Overall Conclusion
If you are looking for a new exotic pet to add to your family, then the fennec fox is a great choice. They are very affectionate and love to be petted and cuddled, and they are super playful and energetic. They are a very intelligent species and can be trained to do things such as sit, stay, and come just like a dog. The fennec fox is a great animal to have as a pet and will be a lifelong friend and companion. If you think you are ready to take on the responsibility of caring for and raising a fennec fox, then you should go online and find a breeder that sells them near where you live. You will also need to find out what permits you need to keep a fennec fox in your state or city.