Black-footed cat: Meet the deadliest cat in the world

It might look like an ordinary cat, but it hides a dangerous secret that makes it one of the most dangerous in the animal kingdom. The black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) is the deadliest feline in the world, its ferocity does not prevent it from being saved from the list of endangered species.

The main problem when trying to quantify the remaining specimens is that they are nocturnal and solitary animals, which take advantage of their small size to camouflage themselves.

Their main threats are poison and traps for other predators, as well as the loss of their natural habitat due to climate change and deforestation.

During the night they feed up to a fifth of their weight, and if they cannot kill prey at once, they hide it and then continue eating it. They can travel up to 16 km in a night in search of food.

They feed on birds, reptiles and other small mammals, and usually do so at night, which makes them very difficult to see with the naked eye and even more difficult to capture. During the day it usually stays hidden in its burrow to avoid the high temperatures of the African desert.

Where are they found?

The black-footed cat is usually found in countries such as Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and some areas in the extreme south of Angola, but unfortunately, this animal is in danger of extinction.

Its performance as a born hunter, the black-footed cat even exceeds that of the leopard, in a period of six months it manages to exceed the number of prey it captures to eat, each night.

Among the estimates of the number of prey, around 3,000 mice are counted throughout the year and even the largest patty blacks can hunt and feed on Cape hares, which are the same size.

They are capable of living for a long period without consuming water, but despite their lethality and survival capacity, they are declared in danger of extinction.

Facts that you did not know about deadliest cat

• 60% of his attacks are successful, making him the deadliest cat in both Africa and planet Earth. It is a mortality rate higher than that of lions, tigers or any other species.

• Mainly found in Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana, it prefers grassy plains, sand plains, and scrub deserts, including the Kalahari and Karoo deserts.

• The black-footed cat is one of the smallest cats in Africa, measuring only about 20 cm tall and weighing between 1 and 2.5 kg.

• Their wide skull and large ears allow them to have a better hearing to find prey.

• They have hair on the soles of their feet to protect them from the heat of the sand.

• These cats are pale dark blonde in colour and have dark markings and prominent horizontal stripes on their limbs.

• Kittens stay with their mothers for up to four months.

• During the day they rest and after sunset they go out to hunt.

• The black-footed cat is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, and its biggest threats are poison and traps for other predators.

• Zoos breed cats to help maintain their numbers, and hunting of the species is prohibited in Botswana and South Africa.

In danger of extinction

According to the classification of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), its status is "vulnerable", that is, it is a category for species with a significant reduction in their population.

The main problem in trying to quantify the remaining specimens is that they are nocturnal and solitary animals, which take advantage of their small size to camouflage themselves.

Their main threats are poison and traps for other predators, as well as the loss of their natural habitat due to climate change and deforestation.

Interesting facts

• These cats are reputed to be vampire cats due to their ability to live without water. The body fluids of their prey are sufficient for all their liquid requirements.

• In the wild, they live up to 6 years, but captive black-footed cats have lived up to 16 years.

• Due to chromosomal differences, the black-footed cat cannot interbreed with other cats.

• It does not have many natural predators but is threatened by poison and traps set by farmers for other predators.

• These cats typically have a hunting range of 20 square kilometres.

• Their characteristic black feet help them walk on deserts of scorching hot sand.

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