And now, a kitten sneaking up on a fennec fox
Hmm, I think I'll search on the keyword "Fennec foxes" and "kittehs" and see what happens [cross-eyed head tilt]
Rachael K., I don't even want to know how this happened. It's FAR too redonk.
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May 05, 2008
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Foxy McBleenerton!!!!
Sneaks up; "Hey, a snack on a leash!"
Gets closer; "What the heck *is* that?"
That is a *really* strange video - it looks like they're on another planet, there's a weird alien sound in the background, and the fox looks like a cross bet. a dog and a cat.
I like it.
do-dee-do... don't mind, just hanging out here...
Kitteh's all like "what big ears you have!" and Foxy's like, "hey, I should have heard you sneaking up on me!"
I don't want to be a 'nuffer, but I don't personally think anyone should have a Fennec Fox on a leash unless they are a trained rehabber or other qualified professional. The fox is rather prosh, though!
ok. a few things:
-where is this magical beach side heaven with boats, foxehs, and kittehs and how do i get there?
-with those big ears, how did the fox not hear the kitteh sneaking up?
-kittehs are so funny, bekuz they think they're so stealthy and slick, but they're really just fuzzuly and silly.
fox: I am oblivious
cat: no way am I sneaking up on anything. why do I look like I am getting closer? your perspective is screwed up, that's why...
fox: oh, there is something sneaking up on me!
cat: WOAH! I thought that thing was a rabbit! retreat! retreat!
I don't care what I'm called; I totally agree that not all animals should be pets, except for the persons mentioned.
But that said, that was just hilarious...cat is all "What? I gotta get me a closer look at that thing...Oh, maybe not ... looks kinds fierce ..."
Can't imagine why person with the leash let the two animals get close enough for cat to give the fox a good bop on the nose. At least pulled fennec to safety...
This video confused me
Ok, how the heck do you sneak up on something with ears like that?
BTW, you know what they say about curiosity.
This is redundent redonk absolutely. What next? A red panda sneaks up on it's back legs to see what's going on?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennec
I guess they can be domesticated..
O.O
learn something new everyday!
I love its ears, they look so soft!
Ninja cat!!!
Please don't post items that show mistreatment of animals (yanking on the leash). Unlike every other thing here, those make me want to stay away.
I agree that i would have been more protective of the fox. A scared cat acn do a lot of damage.
That side, cat is stalking fox like it thinks it's a giant mouse, then gets close enough to sniff and decides he might just be in trouble!
You can totally see the moment when the cat goes, "That's a DOG."
Cat: dun da dun da dun da! *sneaking up on someone sounds*
Fox: tralala, I am so cute! Ooh! Whats over there?
Cat: *crap! plot ruined! make yourself look big!* Who me? sneak up on YOU? Not even worth my time...
I never even knew such a fox existed...and to think i've gone all my life wanting a pet fox and never knowing that I could OWN one. I think I'll head over to the Sahara Desert now and get myself a fennec!
the fox is FINE. the whole thing was magical and ridiculous.
For a while there, this was like watching Sadako (or Samara to all you American audiences) crawling out of that well. The prolonged feeling of dread and curiosity as you see the cat slowly creep closer to it's target. That white cat might as well have had a long black wig on...but alas, the fox decided to give us an anticlimactic ending.
OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY...........
The dangers of perspective: I think the kitkat thought it was a white mouse VERY VERY FAR AWAY until it snuck within a couple of feet; can almost hear it say 'gulp': VERY VERY BIG MOUSE VERY CLOSE [defensive bristling]
I dunno for shore, of course...but I got the impression that the fox and the kitteh knew each other. Especially with how the fox went up the kitteh, all casual like.
The kitteh must have been familier with the owner of the fox, I would think, in order to get that close?
Reminds me of my kitties and how they play with my little dog.
That poor fox.
I love how the kitteh appears less than somewhat than completely focused on the hunt. "I'll capture that thing...right after I sniff this piece of ground here..."
All through the first half, I'm expecting the kitteh to get to the foreground and say...
"IT'S..."
lol@cavalaxis...SOOO true!
Cat was all ..."Emm...made a miscalculation here..."
I love the ingmar bergman-esque composition. it just needs mr. death carrying a sickle to stride through the background for the full effect.
I admit, I was also amused by Mr. McFly buzzing in and out of the whole scene. ;)
Who keeps a Fennec Fox on a leash? Strange video.
foxes should not be on leashes.
just because they "can" be domesticated, doesn't mean they SHOULD.
the video is cute, don't get me wrong. but it's ruined, for me, by the knowledge that the wee lil fox won't get to live the life he deserves.
for the love of petes peoples. If you don't know. find out before you start clicking away in righteous indignation, google it. There is no cruelty here, so, cleansing breaths, and enjoy the cute.
not cute, wtf...
too prosh
can't halp ,ma-self any more.
no fun bein an observ'er.
:) Theo...
This is OT for this thread, but we all know Meg will never get to it, so:
Bunspace. (Social networking for bunnies.) Every month they have a photo contest, and this month it was 'flopped out.' You simply must review the prone bunnies. They are adorable.
I know it's not quite the traditional 'dead rabbit' flop, but I love #3.
@ Liz: I completely agree.
I remember as a kid, when I first learned what a fennec fox was, I thought to myself, "These critters are really cute. Some dingbat is going to try to turn one into a pet."
I wonder if people get fennec foxes for their ego or for the companionship that surely isn't that strong yet in domesticated foxes.
@ DLT
I know, it's just so sad the fox gets to live in a house with free food and care and love ;_;
OMG, a kitteh AND fennec in the same video? This definitely puts the "overload" in cute overload!
That was funny! I loved the stalking kitty!
BTW, some breed of foxes have been bred for domestication. Dogs and cats used to be wild, and now they're house pets. If it's very well cared for, I can respect it. Better than an alligator.
If you can walk a pig, you can walk a fox. (dodgeball reference :P)
it needs a Jaws music soundtrack!
and a fennec fox on a leash? are these things domesticatd?? I wants one!
Cats can be real jerks...
Hello, did anyone notice the teeny little Fennec tongue?! I first noticed at about 45 seconds. So cute!
fennec foxes are wild animals. i don't care if there's an established community of fennec fox owners (and there is) or if they "can" be kept in a domestic setting (and according to some people, they can), it's unethical. think about the drastic change for a fennec fox: the sahara desert to someone's backyard.
Meg, if you're going to post videos like this, please make sure your readers are informed about the practical and ethical ramifications of owning an exotic animal as a pet.
Poor wittle foxy is designed for a desert but here he is on the humid sea shore. For all his cute his little ears become useless.
I think having a fox as a pet is WRONG. I also don't like the way it was yanked on the leash. Totally ruined the cuteness for me.
Let's see...we know this ISN'T a rehab situation because...how???
Come on, people. Let's save our rage for REAL abuse situations...like people who creep in at night to shoot trapped sea lions.
And since Appalled has spoken, it must be true. all heed the words of the all knowing naysayers. If it is not domesticated now it never should be, no matter how much of a double standard that is. Also, no animal that isn't approved by the animal ethics board of Appalled shall be allowed the loving home of a devoted owner. Meg, what were you thinking posting somthing on YOUR website that you FORCE everyone to view, that not every person in the world will agree to its content... how... dare... you...!!
Cats don't just stalk things they want to eat--they also stalk things out of curiosity and I think this is definitely the case here. It also looks to me like the fox knew it was there all along.
Kitty: wtf is this?
Fox: Lalala...oh, hello kitty.
Kitty: Wah...fox cooties!
FYI: Teh viddy is from Robeyta in JAPAN!!!!!!! They kick us in our "cute" hinders again! In Japan, Fennecs are bred for and kept as pets legally.
Lol@Keith Handy!!!
This kitteh reminds me in my patented 3-phase approach to interesting looking women:
1) "Maybe if I act real casual she won't notice me stalking."
2) "Doo-de-doo, oh, no, don't mind me, I wasn't lookin' at you or anything."
3) "Don't touch me! Why are you coming closer?"
P.S. to the Nuffers: Really? REALLY? Do you have ANY idea about what is going on here? Is this REALLY the worst form of animal abuse that you can think of to vent your spleen about? Reminding us that foxes aren't usually considered pets is fine (though I think we're all smart enough to know not to try to domesticate wild animals). But leaping to the worst possible conclusion about every single post is growing tiresome.
Sorry, but I agree with Prinky. NOT cute. Just kind of sad and a little mean to see the fox getting clawed and then yanked around - regardless of its situation.
It doesn't need to be blatantly abusive to be uncute.
Who did that? I didn't see anybody say this was the "worst form of animal abuse" or even "leap to the worst possible conclusion." I saw several people say "this isn't cute because 1) foxes are wild and 2) leash was yanked." Personally, I sympathize with 2 and not 1, but honestly: it's one thing to get mad when people are really 'nuffing and another to preemptively silence anybody who doesn't say "aww!"
here is the lovely Robeyta in Japan explaining the situation:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Robeyta
berthaservant, no it's not the worst form of animal abuse that they can think of to vent their spleens about, but it does manage to accomplish a few nuffy goals:
1. Makes them feel superior to others.
2. Lets them feel good about themselves while not actually doing anything constructive to make any difference.
3. Harshes your mellow.
What I think it comes down to is that this fox was not MEANT to be wild. As in, if there is already an established community of fox owners or whatever was said, then there is nothing we can do about it. This fox was born and bred as a pet.
Oh yes... very cruel to give a pet a PET's life and not a wild animals life. Because putting a domesticated fox in the wild would be so much better.
As much as I love animals *and fennecs are no different.. the ears...the EARS!!!*** I don't condone taking a wild animal out of its habitat to domesticate him/her. That said, this was obviously BRED to be domesticated. I can't be offended by a cute animal that is obviously well cared for and most likely would NOT survive in the wild.
Love your posts Michelle, Berthaservant and Others... pre-emptively nuffing?
Yeah I guess we are not supposed to be annoyed by people who make a point of being negative.... no double standard there :P
My nufometer must need re-charging, I didn't see this coming... the whole time I watched it I never saw all the awfullness :P I think it was cute! That cat thought he was hot stuff till he got a better look lol!
not cute. sad. buhbye, cuteoverload *deletes from bookmarks*
I don't usually break out the "that's not cute," but I will for this one. The fennec doesn't look comfortable or happy in this video, and I also don't like the leash-jerking. Why not the fennec-washing video from Robeyta's site instead? Or the sleepy fennec? Those both have far more tail-puff action than this one, despite their absence of kitty.
I don't know why people have to try to make every animal a pet. This fox should not be on a leash or have a collar on. It deserves to live in the wild, where foxes belong. Shame on you, cuteoverload.
Jesus Christ. What's wrong with everyone?
Oh the tension, what will happen? Oh they know each other.
i don't agree with the leash,
the only time a leash should ever be put on a wild animal is for example if you need to temporarily capture it to move it to a better habitat, or back into its natural habitat, or if say the fox is injured and someone was taking care of it until it recovered.
I R BIG HUNTR CAT. O HAI, JUST KIDING.
It's not really Meg's responsibility to get all offended for everyone and wield the big moral stick over people who are just looking for teh cute.
That's what nuffers are for.
People get more and more ridiculous, negative, and just plain rude as time goes on here. Do you come here just to look for the negative?
Meg is not responsible for what occurs in these videos and pictures. And if you don't like them, you don't have to watch them. But a) don't blame her like she is the one doing the harm you supposedly see and b) don't stamp on other peoples joy (especially when this is where so many people come to enjoy, relax, and just shut out the world to look at cute, sweet, and all around heartwarming pictures/videos/etc.)needlessly.
You have to be out of your mind if you think that for even one second Meg would condone, support, or encourage animal abuse, cruelty, or anything of the sort. Honestly, you'd have to be right out of your mind.
If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.
We come here to get away from the negative and sad in the world, and yet you come here and just bring it all back. And sometimes, it's jut for the sake of doing it...
Give it a rest.
Sigh, your efforts in civility may as well be efforts in futility. Übernuffs don't give anything a rest until they have everyone whipped into a flamewar frenzy. Their arsenal is paranoia, zealotry, and emotion. If all you came to the fight armed with is reason, logic, and common sense - well, that stuff just bounces off their thick skulls.
I just wish all the ones that threatened to stop coming here would keep their promise. ;)
Darn, for the last week I have had probs with watching videos on youtube. They either won´t play and just keep loading and loading, or if they´re linked here, for example, it says "Video no longer Available". Anybody else has had that problem?
It´s not ALL videos, just a LOT of them. I still can see some, but... am getting Cute Withdrawals here! HELP! :(
the little fox looks frightened
Sigh, everyone has a right to his own opinion
D: That wasn't even a big yank and it was best to give the fox some distance from the cat at that time...
Absolutely love this vid! I was waiting for the pounce tat never came but the cat getting all wound up made up for it. XD
okay...first of all...what is this leash tugging every one is talking about? that slight pull on the leash to tell the fox to stay away from mr. kitty? uh...last time i checked that wasn't animal abuse...it wasn't like the owner yanked it or hurt it in anyway, it was merely a gentle tug.
Second of all...about this whole domesticated thing...wtf...How can people honestly say that its ethically wrong to domesticate some animals? Dogs were once wild, cats were once wild...but oh no, those are considered 'normal' pets so that's okay. It's not like this fennec fox was just bopping around the desert and was picked up and put in a cage one day. No most likely its been bred to be a pet...putting it into the wild would only do it damage.
Now i'm not saying every animal should be domesticated, like lets say a lion or something. But that's because its impossible to actually domesticate such animals do to a number of reasons...such as their instinct to eat you if they get the chance...But the fennec fox meets all the needs on the list to succesfully domesticate a creature. So...as long as they aren't taken directly from the wild who cares whether its a pet or not?
Everyone calm down, as I pass out pa-sickies for everyone...There, that's better!
*tilts head, exchanges WTF glance with berthaservant, shrugs*
I don't get it either.
Agreed that the leash tug was in no way abusive, it wasn't super hard, and the owner was trying to keep the fox AWAY from trouble in the form of the kitteh.
I thought this was cute. I wish the kitty had gotten a little closer, just for dramatic effect. Though the fox turning its head towards the kitteh in that "BUS-ted!" moment was pretty funny.
Also, bali...another round of, really? REALLY? Well, totally your loss dude, not ours or Meg's.
Cometroversy aside, I wonder if this McFoxersons likes Chunk Bacon http://chunkybacon.com/. I think he looks more like the shorter fox.
Thank you Carol!!! Cherry Pasickie for me!
Dog owners (like me) must yank the dog's leash from time to time to keep it away from something (like an unknown cat). I didn't notice that it was a harsh jerk or anything like that.
Calm yourselves. Rather than exercising your conclusion-jumping ability, how about helping out some animals WHO NEED IT????
I know that the objections are coming from caring and gentle folks. The shelters are full of animals due to the economy and somebunny (or kitty, doggeh, or maybe even a fox in socks) could use your passion!!
Back to pasickie!
I think the kitty got a fright not becuase the fox wasnt a rabbits but when he realised the cat was there his ears seem to grow really big! if i was being a sneakingks kitteh that would scare me too! o.o
I went to her site and watched her two foxes frollic on the bed with a toy...leashless and happy.
totally agree with Prinky!!!!
The fox looks sad? The fox looks scared? WTF are you people on? I admit that I'm not intimately familiar with fennec fox body language (why, are you?) but that fox looks perfectly content to me. Sleepy eyes, relaxed pose, ears laid back. Even when the cat comes up it merely looks interested and curious. Stop projecting.
Carol, I'll take a pa-sickie!
Loved the fox and the kitty.
Agree they look like they knew each other.
NO WAY a critter with ears that big didn't hear that kitty coming a mile away!!!
Odd, i saw teh cat sneak up and stop what I thought was a bit far from teh "quarry". Then when the fox went over and showed the length of his rope it was "aHA!"
Another food for thought- kitty-swipes don't always have extended claws.
as for the Nuffs- well, some think the glass is half full, half empty, "Hey, waiter, can you top this?' and "Who's been drinking my drink?" I always feel a bit sorry for #2 and #4.
People are making good points here. It's futile to pick on something that is here to stay, sure. But it's also not good to to just say "People domesticated dogs and cats, so why not foxes?"
Chastising people for seeing wrongness in an obviously wrong situation doesn't help. We're not all "thick-skulled."
We are all here to appreciate cuteness, right? What about ethics? Cute animals do not exist in the world to entertain us. We should have standards.
Maybe you would rather all the comments say, "This is really cute! I want one! Is there a store where I can pick one up??? The Japanese are SO ahead of us!"
Yeah, and the Japanese are also far ahead of us in the treatment of dolphins....
Make my pasickie a pudding pasickie and I'll be happy.
Jeesh, this place makes me wanna scream sometimes. I'm a rabid animal defender, but holy crap, I can't see one time on here that an animal has been truly mistreated. You wanna see mistreated animals, start your own blog called "Mistreatmentoverload.com and whine and bitch about animal mistreatment there. Perhaps you could download "Animal Cops" shows from Animal Planet, or show endless loops of the Kentucky Derby and last weeks Sea World incident....
*fears impending editing*
GOOD LORD PEOPLE it says right in the title what is going to be in the video.
Very funny and cute!
Compy: let me come back with a nice generalised, sarcastic, rascist comment such as yours: Americans are sooo ahead at protecting the environment.... oh wait.
But really this fox doesnt look injured its not being mistreated (certainly i used to tug at my dobermans leash when he saw rabbits)
As for kitty fighting my cat used to beat up my doberman non stop and he wouldnt have a scratch on him...
:O OH MY GOSH SO CUTE! I wonder if the waves made it so that the sound of approaching kitty-catness was drown out. Absolutely adorable video, I loves it. <3
@cavalaxis - LOL, completely XD
The foxy is adorable. <3 As for the domesticated issue, definately a bred-for-pet fox. He's so relaxed! I wonder if the he and the cat knew each other? Usually cat's won't approach people they don't know - and especially not dangerous looking other-animals. A mark of a good owner to take their pet for a walk on the beach, that is for sure.
I wanted to say - I think the Fennec Fox is a gorgeous animal... wild or domesticated.
really cute.
those ears! good gawd.
i like the little paw-bonk by kitteh. kitteh is confused!
Oh for crying out loud. I'll give my standard reply that I had to use when people got on me for having ferrets and were all "Ferrets are wild animals! Let your ferrets free!"
An animal that has been domesticated through generations of breeding and captivity CANNOT be returned to the wild. If this animal was BRED as a pet, letting it free and giving it the "wild life it deserves" will KILL it.
Which one do YOU think is more humane?
May I please have a blueberry pa-sickie while I'm humming the Monty Python opening song-
and watching it again, that was very funny! I've forgotten which Sousa march it is.........Washington Post, maybe? Please, does someone know?
"It's!" Sublime!
I agree, this is NOT cute. It's not nice of them to force the fox to stay there for a possible confrontation with the cat.
That fox totally knows he's being snuck up upon. Check out those l'il radar dishes all pointing behind him and stuff. He's just humoring senor stalky.
And the kitty's all stalky until he gets about halfway to mr cutie, and then you can sort of see the thought: "Maybe I don't really *want* to stalk that. What the heck *is* that thing, anyway??"
Monty Python opening is "Liberty Bell March".....
How cruel, and stupid this person is to have this poor fox that should be in the wild....foolish ass.
Dear God.
People can sometimes be so damned annoying. I for one am heartily sick and tired of coming here and almost every other day seeing someone blurt out how some critter in a photo or short video is being treated cruelly.
Sick. And. Tired. Of. It.
Here's a note. You might well be entitled to an opinion, but if it has no basis in fact or reality, it only makes you look like a moron and a whiner.
So, unless someone here can offer me diffinative and irrefutable proof that said fox in said video is actually living a life marked by cruelty, you are doing nothing but blowing in the wind, fustrating other people coming to CO and in general being a reactionary person who is engaging in cruel activity of your own. Meaning, the person behind this video (or any other image that gets your panties in bunches) is probably being hurt by your baseless accusations towards them.
Yes, Opinions are fine and dandy, but I was taught that opinions only hold weight when they are backed up by all the information surrounding the subject.
i think fennecs are adorable, and i'm not against keeping them as pets... but that fox looks scared. it doesn't look like it should be out there. and then the yank of the leash was really uncalled for. if they were trying to protect the fox, scaring the cat away would have worked a lot better.
Thank you Gail.
Da Dum ta dum da dum ta dum...I think the fox and the cat are familiar to one another, Da tum ta tum da dum ta dum......I call earworm!!! Yeah John Philip Sousa! Hooray people who think Fennec Foxes are Cute! Get over yourselves, please, worriers. Da da ta ta da dum...no one can be uncheered by a John Philip Sousa march! Apologies to A.A. Milne.
That makes me really sad. Poor little fox looks terrified =( This is neither cute nor funny. Why would you post this?
That loud rythmic banging you hear is me bashing my head against a brick wall in utter fustration.
BLEEN.
I showed this to my uncle who had a fox as a pet when he was a kid-- he laughed his butt off! The cat should have been able to smell that this isn't food- ITS A FOX!
And yes, I want a fennec. WHO THE CRAP DOESN'T?!
Martial- a ancient Roman writer- wrote about a friend of his who had a pet Fennec fox. (Epigrams, 7.87)
"If my Flaccus delights in a long-eared Fennec..."
So I guess they were pets in the late 1st century C.E. at least...
Aw, the fox is only hoping to meet a cute cat on the beach! But he's all nervous. He's all practicing pick-up lines, waiting for the right moment...
"Oh hai! I see you use SPF 100 too!"
Ouch. Better luck next time, eh?
Hmmm... That bit of ancient history is from me, but apparently I cannot write my own name. Supposed to be "Pliny" not "Pli."
Ta Dum da Dum, if the fox was terrified, it would be panting and pacing and the leash would not be loose, taaaaa tilildy dum ta dum, ta dum ta dummmmm, the cat isn't looking at it as anything else but a mystery. Ta tidily tum the fox is pulling back his ears to be able top sniff the air better, the way animals do, over their tongues and through their special smelling-sense-whodingies, having many things to smell at a sea shore,(sing that all in one breath), it is just hanging out, and knows the cat, so the fox is not waiting with any anxiety, he's just waiting. Sheesh! Don't make me hum at you again, please???? All is well, all is bright. Make that one Fennec fox to go please? Yes, I'd like it wrapped up, thanks ever-so. No, no card, it is a present for me! Hang on Monty, it'll be OK.
Fox: (speaking to Command Base thru secret mic) "Cat at one o'clock! Zee cat zuspects nozzink."
Command Base: "Hold your position until further orders. By the way, you didn't dig your trench deep eNUFF."
Fox: "Ya. Got eet."
(recon fly flies recons)
Command: "Steady!"
Fox: "Ehn, zee cat eez zo close, I, I, ..."
Command: "And,,, Attack!"
Fox: "Ehn! Ouch! SOS! Pull me outta hea!"
Yanking on a leash to save the animal from getting a cat scratch is NOT cruel... if they didn't yank that lead then the cat probably would have done worse!
Sorry, but in a world where stupid people [EDIT]... for fun, and pathetic losers try to [EDIT...], this video for me falls FAR SHORT of abusive and cruel.
[Kathy, I totally agree, 100%, but c'mon... tone it down a little? - Ed.]
Ann-
I was waiting for someone to say that- kitty was all "i'm stalking that mousey looking thing" and then when he gets close enough to catch a wiff of foxy there you can see the "ack, dog! abort, abort" come across kitty's face. XD
The leash was yanked? I didn't even notice. Apparently whoever thinks the leash was yanked has never OWNED a pet...
I never thought that it was abusive to have a fox for a pet - heck, my dad did as a young boy, back in the day. Anyone who knows K9s can see that foxy was enjoying sniffing the sea breezes through most of the vid. I quite enjoyed the cat's AHA moment, when s/he realized OMG A DOG, but I was very unhappy with jerking the leash - that was a severe jerk. The videographer shouldn't have let the fox get that close to the cat in the first place. Was it abusive? More or less. It ruined the video for me. They should have edited that part out - then it would've been perfect!
The leash-jerk was NOT severe. It was basically the equivalent of a "NO!" since the unknown kitty was angry and scared, which is to say, ready to attack with claws. Fennec was getting just a leetle too curious.
Suffice to say, if you think this looks "abusive", then you can probably haven't seen real abuse, and this is enviable, so please count your blessings.
You know what? If you don't like what's on the site, STFU and GBTW.
It's simple: DON'T COME HERE. Delete this site from your bookmarks.
Oh, and don't let the virtual door hit you on the butt on your way out.
Buh-BYE!
Geez.
(yeeps... obviously folks get pretty emotional over this stuff)
(squints) "plaid"?
You let your mother pick out your shirts still? ;-p
I have yet to see any compelling reason why fennec foxes *shouldn't* be pets. If you wanted to, you could find reasons to not keep any animal. I really dig the idea of unconventional pets. Does that mean I'm going to run out and get one, or attempt to snag one from the wild? Of course not. I grew up in a house of animal activists, of spending hours finding homes for strays and lecturing friends who wished to declaw their cats. But I'm also not going to lose my head at the thought of people domesticating something new. It just doesn't seem very logical, or realistic to me.
Sung to the Lovely Spam Song-Monty Python.
Nuff Nuff Nuff Nuff,
Nuff Nuff Nuff Nuff,
Nuffity Nuff, Nuffity Nuff.
Nuffity Nuff, Nuffity Nuff.
i still don't like foxes kept as pets. sorry, i just don't.
Sure the fox is adorable, and the rest of the context is... it's just, well... ugh. I don't like people keeping small monkeys either.
this fox looks healthy enough, and i'm sure he's cared for. Just--- why in the world do you feel the need to own an exotic pet?
Ha! Clearly those of you calling foul on the leash-tug have never owned a dog, or been near someone walking one.
Yes, there are people who will jerk leashes with the possibility of causing harm. This isn't one of them.
When your dog is out and about, and you're with them, there are times when you need to keep them from things that might hurt them, such as tugging them away from a dead bird (as I had to do this morning) or keeping them from a dog much bigger than them. And even the nicest, most responsible owner can't always control what the dog does... there's been more than once that my beagle-mix will catch an interesting scent and try to break his neck by suddenly pulling (we're working on that!).
My point is that you can't call foul until you've been there. Stop saying this tug (it certainly wasn't jerking the leash) is cruel, because it's far from it.
Once again, it's perfectly alright to assume every single picture and video on this site is 100% ethical and wonderful but if anyone dares to disagree they are stupid worthless "nuffs" who really should keep their ridiculously self entitled opinions to themselves. I fail to see a single post that calls this video the worst possible form of animal abuse, what I do see is people being concerned about a situation they personally don't feel is right, and then dozens of other people practically clawing over each other to let those bad bad people know just how wrong, presumptuous, and idiotic they are. I don't see how it hurts anyone for people to question the ethics of a video or photo, but I definitely see the harm in refusing to question a situation at all JUST because it's posted on this site. Of course the maintainers of this blog don't condone cruelty or abuse, that much is clear, but that doesn't mean that they're experts on every single aspect of animal care. If something is posted here that genuinely concerns people, I personally think it's beneficial to a community of animal lovers for them to speak up because at the very least it introduces a new perspective that may be worth taking a look at. Of course some people seem to go too far with it, but nobody's insisting that you adopt their opinions. Just try not to have a heart attack when someone says something contrary to what you believe.
*self righteous Bleeny takes a mighty bow and leaps off stage*
okay, i need to elaborate, i guess.
i know fennecs domesticate pretty well after a few generations (and if you can put up with them possibly never getting house trained), they make fuzzy wuzzy cute pets. But it's not a dog, and it's not a cat, and needs special care. What bugs me most is not the domestication of a new animal, but rather people trying to obtain one without knowing what it means. A fennec fox might not be for you, even if they ARE dead cute. Of course there's the same problem with cats and dogs, but most people are at least familiar with their basic needs and behaviour.
i don't fear domestication, i rather fear people DOING IT WRONG. the second someone posts a clip of a tiger cub in their house (rehab clips, usually) someone posts "i'm going to get one too :D". I don't even have to tell you how that won't work =P
No commentroversy for me, thanks, I'm full!
For the people who said the leash jerk was severe, I have one question, "Have you ever owned a terrier?" Good gravy! My dogs nearly decapitate themselves sometimes jerking their OWN leashes. I didn't even notice the leash jerk in the video...
The landscape of this video was very odd. Surreal. Reminded me of a Dali painting or something...
This is getting sickening. Why would you come to a website like this only to spew your negative comments about every damn thing you see? Do you people not have lives? Do you people look for stuff to nuff on purpose, or does it fall into your laps? Please, give the negativity a rest! If you don't like the damn posts or the site or Meg for posting things that offend you, stay the hell away from the damn site and let the people who can watch a video or regard a picture without our heads exploding for some commentroversy...I swear, it seems you people look for stuff to be offended about. Sick of you. Go away from us.
[sigh... don't make yourself crazy trying to cure the internet, Rosie... - Ed.]
Ummm....yeah, so you think someone saying on a blog "I'm going to get one" means they actually are going to.
Yeah. And I have this bridge in Brooklyn for you.
As for Bleeny....see, here's the thing. It gets depressing to see day after day after day after day people popping in and condeming to one degree or another picture after video after picture after video. Makes me want to hand in my membership card for the human race really.
Call me nuts if you will, but I prefer to give the takers of videos and pictures that end up here the benefit of the doubt rather than jumping to a negative conclusion without gaining all the facts about said situation.
@Tinky - Tippi Hedren has a preserve call Shambala that takes in Large Cats ie Lions, Tigers, Ligers, Ocelots... more than one of the animals that she has rescued have been PETS that ended up in attics or basements because, hey, guess what, they are fricking WILD ANIMALS. (In one case, the graduating son had the choice between a lion cub and a car...and he chose the lion. IDIOTS!)
Anyway, I digress...
There are degrees of idiocy. If something has been domesticated for a thousand years and you just didn't know about it, I see no need to rail against it... as long as it is healthy and you can maintain it in the environment it can flourish in.
ahhhhh! WHAT A CUTIE. THE EyES!! & when he turns, akh! THE ENORMOUS EARS!!
I would think with such big ears, he would have noticed the cat alot earlier.
I thought at the time PETA chose CuteOverload as one of their favorite websites that it would bode ill. I think I was right: I bet you anything the PETAphiles are here and nuffing all over the dang place. It sure sounds like 'em in here: Ask your friendly PETA activist what they think of ANY domesticated animals, spaying, or pet food with meat in it.
Which is fine, okay? Knock yourself out, people. Free country. But nooooot appropriate for a site geared to gentle enjoyment of the Qte. It's not a political site. And it really doesn't wanna be. So if you hate the content, leave. No one is forcing you to look at this stuff. And Meg is not your servant. Nothing is preventing you from starting, say, "cutewithoutcruelty.com".
Look. It's a cute domesticated fennec with EARZ. and a kitteh! ANNNGH.
Woohoo commentroversary!!!(sp?)
Perhaps we could have a commentroversary anniversary. Theo did you coin the term.
[I like to think so... - Ed.]
http://www.squidgrid.com/cute/Glossary.htm#Comment
I didn't find this cute I found it disturbing.
Hey Pyrit --
Actually, I look *fabulous* in plaid. Really sets off my eye-patch, y'know?
And my mother hasn't spoken to me since I came home with the tattoos and hook hand....
;-)
According to Wikipedia, those big ears are sensitive enough to pick up the sound of insects (which these foxes dine on) walking on sand. So obviously he was humoring kitteh the whole time.
I really admire the cat's stalking skills, particularly where he crouches down into the hole.
He's all, "Foxhole... geddit?"
I am so glad I live in a free country where people can write what they want. This is actually a hilarious commentroversy! Some people see it as cruel, some do not. One camp will not change the other. Get over it.
I think the fennec fox had a bet going on with the holder of the video camera on how far the cat could get before realizing that he was being tracked the entire time...i think Mr. Fennec Fox got $20 and a piece of steak later that night.
I don't think the video was abusive, cruel or anything. It's domesticated, so what? Nothing you can do about that particular fox anyway...it's cute, it's cuddly, and it is obviously an alien being anyway, with the video being shot on some faraway planet. I half expect Optimus Prime's shadow to appear...
I've heard scary things about PETAs shock-value methods of portraying animal cruelty, so I've never researched them. Cosmiquemuffin, can you clear up part of your comment for me? Are you saying PETA thinks we shouldn't feed our carnivorous/omnivorous pets meat? And we shouldn't spay & neuter our pets? I thought meat was healthy for them (seeing as how that's what they eat in the wild), and if we don't spay/neuter them we end up with overpopulation and abandoned litters.
Look, no one is jumping on the nuffs who say "Cute, but let's remember that fennec foxes aren't usually domesticated as pets," or pointing out other instances where an pet owner might be inadvertantly putting an animal in danger (by feeding it the wrong kind of food or whatever).
Liz' response towards the top seems reasonable: Don't have a fox on a leash unless you are trained.
But I'm sorry, there ARE extremists here. Anon (how brave of you!) says this is "mistreatment." DLT says that even if animals CAN be domesticated, they SHOULDN'T and this well-cared for animal is not living a proper life. Appalled likewise said that even if there IS a community of people who raise these animals properly, there SHOULDN'T be. Pinky says having a pet fox is "WRONG" and the leash yank was cruel. Psmom says that the fox was "clawed" and "yanked around." There are other examples.
And, by the way, 'nuffing the 'nuffers is NOT a double-standard if you are calling people on unsupported, irrational, or flawed arguments. I've said many times I don't mind people expressing their opinions, but sometimes it is done in a way that indicates anyone who disagrees is wrong. But it's the people who ASSUME the worst -- that this was a wild fox kidnapped and tied up and forced to live on a beach where random cats can come and take a swat at it while cruel owners yank it around by a leash -- and make their argument on that basis that drives me nuts. Especially because this is essentially an anonymous forum, and that kind of alarmist panic is usually little more than self-serving.
If you say "That fox looks scared" I think we have the right to say, "No, we disagree, can you point to something specific?" The fox seems TOTALLY serene and at peace and perhaps pretending to not notice the encroaching kitteh to me. The fox never struggles, and is only gently yanked away from the kitteh when kitteh takes a swat. (Guess what? Animals swat each other!) If you find the video disturbing, then feel free to say so, but if you can't (or don't care to) support your opinion with some kind of observable fact or legitimate claim to knowledge, then be prepared for the pudding.
Take the leash off of that poor fox.
The PETA point — about them flooding this site after the link — makes sense of a lot of what goes on on this site (I haven't seen this kind of inundation and extremism on other sites). It's all falling into place, now that I'm aware of that.
funny as heck!! I shall geet you mousie!....er, FOXY, GAH!!
and OMG CALL PETA!!!
PETA and vegetarian pets: http://speciesism.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/what-peta-says-about-vegan-pets/
I think I'm wrong about PETA and neutering. While I did run into a PETA person on the street who was protesting any surgery on animals including spaying as infringing on animal rights, PETA the organization has been pretty good about promoting it as a solution to preventing unwanted animals.
It is weird like that though. The website and info that PETA has looks really good, while my in-person experiences with PETA members, particularly the ones who do protests and get in people's faces... well that's really different. My labrador breeder friend was once harassed by PETA members so viciously that she had to disconnect her phone. Their point was that dogs shouldn't be bred. My friend doesn't run a mill and really works at making sure that breeding anomalies are avoided.
So I dunno. It's quite possible that 80-90% of PETA members are fine upstanding people, but that the remaining ones with some serious axes to grind are ruining it for everybody.
---
On a happier note... may I say.... FENNEC EARZ!!!! OMG nom nom nom
So what, the Japanese keep a lot of weird things as pets, such as Rhinoceros Beetle, which they commonly pit against each other in GLORIOUS BUG FLIPPING COMBAT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUQzDMY6-NY
WHERE'S THE INDIGNATION OVER THAT EH NUFFERS?
I love this site, but this video is cruel and not cute. The fox looks miserable; how? Eye position, ways he is looking around unsure of the environment, NOT noticing the cat is NOT serene but overwhelmed, ears are not relaxed, but perplexed. He is acting miserable and should NOT be or tugged on the leash. A fox is a WILD animal. NOT something that should be forced to hang on a beach then tugged back because he shows curiosity for something the VIDEOGRAPHER is TRYING to capture.
Why can some people say 'oh everything is SO cute here" but if other poeple say "I don't think this is cute" then the non- cuters are considered nuffers and are out to ruin everyones day. Jeez, people. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I personally don't think owning is fox is for me, nor would I encourage anyone to own one. But I'd expect others to respect my decision to not own one and not jump done my throat for saying I think it isn't right. I'm not chastising anyone for saying its cute, so you shouldn't freak out when i say its not cute. This is just a website people!! Choose your battles!!!
> Look, no one is jumping on the nuffs who say "Cute, but let's remember that fennec foxes aren't usually domesticated as pets," or pointing out other instances where an pet owner might be inadvertantly putting an animal in danger
...except for all the instances I've seen of people doing *precisely* that, and even your use here of a term that's generally used derogatorily around these parts.
>sigh< One of these days I'll remember *not* to read the comments on this site, under any circumstances - the overpowering stench of self-righteousness, from *all* sides, quite puts me off my kyoot. As it is, the only time I ever go near them is when I have to click the item link to get the video URL - so Meg/Teho, if you could post video URLs next to the video, it would help those of us who can't run Flash (and have had quite enough of others' sanctimony for one lifetime) enormously.
"Nuff" is "derogatory?" It's a term of endearment, mostly.
And Gwyn -- NO ONE IS FORCING YOU TO READ THE COMMENTS. You can watch the video WITHOUT scrolling down.
If ANYONE, ANYONE, can show me ONE piece of evidence that THIS particular fox has been GENUINELY mistreated -- NOT your interpretation of what might be happening, but ACTUAL PROOF -- then I will recant, reject and denounce everything I have said and join your cause.
FWIW, in my almost 40 years, I have had three vegetarian/vegan friends join PETA -- including an ex-girlfriend who used to compare me to Hitler because I eat meat.
ALL of these friends, within one year, were eating meat again. I think PETA does some amazing and important things as an organization, but my experience with some of the extremists in the organization leave me unimpressed with their ability to construct a rational argument in support of their cause(s).
okay!! In my first post i said that it was cute, yes i think the fox is adorable but yeah i have to admit that when i noticed there was a leash on him, my heart sank. If he didn't have a leash on him, the video would be perfectly cute, but obviously encounters like these don't happen naturely in the wild. However if this person just happened to come across this encounter and capture it, it would be a masterpiece to me. IF and only IF
I completely agree with Liz--the fox shouldn't be a pet. That's a wild and gorgeous animal. I don't like the yanking of the leash either--and even if it was to protect the fox, it was too little, too late.
Sorry to be a downer, but that's how I call it.
The fox is a PET people. On the beach.
Leash laws people.
Go here
http://www.youtube.com/user/Robeyta
This is NOT a wild fox, but a fox that has been bred as a PET.
Kneejerk reactions based on no actual information about a given situation make Hulk angry.
Anyone who evidently didn't realize: calling cruelty on any picture or video will get you jumped on by people who are tired of reading that every time something is posted. There you go. Forewarned is forearmed. If you don't want people to tell you to shut up, don't say anything in the first place.
le sigh...
Lea??? Are you friggin serious??
I totally had the same reaction about the video being some surreal segment of a Bergman film. What I couldn't believe was that we couldn't hear whoever was shooting the video snickering uncontrollably. He/She must have had to stuff his/her mouth with a sock, or a ferret.
I thought the whole thing was cute and hilarious, adn both creatures were very sweet!
CO = Commentroversy Overload
Yer tellin me... oy
Berthaservant, just to clarify, I never said it was a double standard to "nuff nuffers". The problem I was addressing was the ad hominem attacks against "nuffers". If you disagree with the people who think this is a bad situation then by all means let them know. What worries me is the personal attacks on people who don't think the same, i.e. the complete freak outs where "nuffers" are called troublemaking idiots who have nothing better to do with their lives than harsh their cute buzz. The people who think this isn't cute aren't bad people and they have just as much right to post what they think as you do. If they were saying, "you morons who think this is cute are blind to everything and have no business around animals" then yes, I would have just as much issue with them. In addition, I was saying that I don't understand how it's better to assume that everything is exactly perfect just because you don't see anyone stabbing the animal with a red hot poker or anything. It's true, "nuffs" don't know anything about the background of this animal...but neither do the rest of the commentors. You're ALL making assumptions and I don't understand why those who think this video is cute (I'm not saying I don't, so don't panic) think you're somehow more sane or rational than those who don't think so.
Bah, enough novels for me, just throwing my 2 cents in. ^_^
Sad for the fox. Did not think this was cute or funny.
Wow. I really didn't see this commentroversy coming. Usually I see a pic or video on here and right away can determine "Uh oh. I think I'll stay away from the comments today" even though I never personally have a problem with whatever is being shown. But this? Really?! I think whoever it was made a smart observation about the PETA link...
HONestly!
I'd like a Bill Cosby chocolate puddin' pasicki, please!
Bleeny, the difference between making positive assumptions and negative assumptions is that the positive ones aren't depressing. Most come here because they find teh Qte uplifting.
Cuteoverload = escapism
Escapism is not bad, and does not need to be squelched by intimations of abuse.
Come on, Bleeny. If a person is unable to look at a cute image or video and assume "everything is exactly perfect just because you don't see anyone stabbing the animal with a red hot poker or anything", that's the very dictionary definition of irrational and insane behavior. You honestly can't understand how it's better to not assume or imagine these things?
I wonder what would happen if everyone felt the same on everything? I'd sure be bored, I guess.
My eye's are ROLLING so hard they hurt when I read some of these comments!
Now onto MINE: I adored this vid, and saw nothing cruel, just cute!
"Will you stop posting things I don't like? I only want to see posts that I like. I find reading or viewing posts I don't like upsetting. I should think the majority of the other visitors to this site share my opinion.
"I will not be visiting your site in the future. I look forward to your prompt reply to my comments."
*grabs pa-sickie and watches the video again*
Nyerhe.
Oh, and lol@posernuffs who pretend to be experts in fennec fox behavior in order to sway the opinions of visitors to this site.
"You will notice how his left whisker twitched at the very moment he glanced at the hunk of seaweed and yawned. This is a vital and desperate attempt to feign disinterest, a common defense mechanism employed by an absolutely terrified fennec fox, particularly those kept on leashes at the beach while being stalked by kittens. Only the seasoned expert in fennec fox behavior can read these subtle signs of abject fear and terror."
lol
Michelle -- and you can tell by looking at the pixels...
I don't think that was cute at all. It almost seemed cruel. It certainly doesn't appear that the fox is happy on a leash and that he's kind of trapped whereever he is. Anyway, not cute.
This is the first time I've ever felt compelled to post here - I have to agree that this is not really cute. Just seeing the fox on the leash, then being jerked back on it, the whole context of the vid just isn't adorable. It is a wild animal and doesn't look like it is being treated as one. The whole thing is strange and charmless yet seems to pass as cute because the fox happens to be fuzzy and have big ears.
Normally I do find CO uplifting and love the site (thank you!), have passed it on to many, this is the first time I've seen something that is off and felt it worth putting my two cents in.
Michelle- no, I mean, I get why people want to roll their eyes at some things people say. I phrased it poorly, so I should clarify that the posts I'm thinking about are ones like this where the circumstances are questionable. Regardless of how happy or unhappy you think this fox is, the fact remains that these are recently domesticated animals and that fact alone is going to be worrisome to some people because of the unconventional care it requires and since its breeding origin isn't given. This fox was probably bred to be a pet and is just peachy keen with that but I don't think it's ridiculous for people to wonder if that's REALLY the case. I'm not saying every "nuff" is justified by any means, but I think active questioning of situations that aren't cut and dry is healthy. Anyway, it's unlikely that my ramblings will change anybody's mind, I'm just trying to point out that not every "nuff" is a crazy who's out to ruin cute for the rest of the world. Some people are honestly concerned and I think it's silly to attack them JUST because they voice an opinion that "brings people down". *shrug*
I went to the owner's YouTube and looked at the video there. The English part of the description (she's Japanese) ends "and Suponji [the fox] will get the cat punch." Yes, the fox really did get punched by the cat. What a lovely way of putting it :D
And yet no one at all bothered to click the link for the pet owner that I provided with just a wee bit of detective work. No one bothered to check out the circumstances for this particular animal, thoughtfully provided for their information, before denouncing and decrying.
See, in this case, it REALLY IS the case that this fox is a pet, was breed over a few generations for domestication in that area. If anyone had bothered the 5 seconds it takes to click the link and READ what the owner of this fox states, they wouldn't be here spouting what in essence is nonsense.
Sad. Really sad. And terrifying if you were to put that in any other situation.
:(, looked it up, it is one of those wild animals people are compelled to breed and keep as pets - too cute for their own good i guess. Sad, maybe put the effort to protecting them and their real habitat and get a domestic pet instead..
If you read about they are not considered domesticated in spite of whatever breeding people do.
Beg Pardon! Thought you were a rabbit, mate!
"The Fennec Fox is considered the only species of fox which can properly be kept as a pet. Although it cannot be considered domesticated, it can be kept in a domestic setting similar to dogs or cats. In the United States and Canada there is a relatively established community of Fennec Fox owners and breeders."
Heehee... if you drag the progress bar to "fast forward" the kitteh looks like he's blinking from point to point.
*blip*
Gonna getcha!
*blink*
GOOOONNNA getcha!
*bamf*
Gonnnnnnnaaaa... ohai! Ya seed me! KTHXBAI!
Cute! ^_^
Ah, thank you Berthaservant! The reliable voice of reason!
For myself, I hated the video...just 'cuz of the "weird vibe".
I can haz another Pasickie?
I thought it was cute - up until the point poor foxy got smacked in the face!
But the linked video of it washing its giant ears is WAY cuter. Cats washing their faces is one of the cutest things ever, and fennec fox omggiantears! are one of the cutest things ever, and the cross of the two is totally as cute as you think it is.
I didn't like that video at all! Poor thing on a leash and then getting pulled away at the end.....very upsetting.
I'm confused at all of you acting like that fox suffered malicious abuse when it was yanked away from the cat. have any of you ever had a dog? When it gets itself in a negative situation, your priority should be getting your animal away from that situation before things potentially escalate. You don't bend over, coo lovingly and ask your dog to come. You focus on getting them out of the situation first and foremost. The fox wasn't hurt at all - unless it has brittle bones syndrome, it should be right as rain.
You guys are overreacting to the point that I feel obligated to COMPLETELY over analyze this video ridiculous.
Oce, why didn't you just offer that deeply compelling argument ... "Dude...it's just a fennec"
As weary as you appear to be that someone could actually think and react to this video thoughtfully, I'm depressed by those who believe there's no merit to being either thoughtful or sensitive but rather reactive.
I agree that it was important to separate fox and cat ... but that should have been done before the whap on the nose.
That yank was a little cruel.