Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes)

Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes) in the zoo of Wuppertal. Photograph by Pierre de Chabannes. Some rights reserved.

Description

The Black-footed cat is one of the smallest species of wild cats and similar in shape to the domestic cat. The fur is brownish with a pattern of round black or dark brown spots. It has a large head relative to the body. It has two black stripes across each cheek with pale area between the stripes. There are two black stripes on the forelegs, and up to five on the back legs. The soles of the feet have black fur to protect them from the hot sand. The tail is about half the length of the head and body.

Size

Length: males 42cm - 50cm; females 34cm - 37cm.

Habitat

The Black-footed Cat is found in the dry country of South Africa.

Food

Feeds on small prey such as rodents, birds, spiders, insects. They catch their prey by stalking and pouncing on it. They sometimes scavenge on larger dead mammals.

Breeding

The female gives birth to one to three kittens (average two) after a gestation period of about 68 days. The young are born in a burrow, crevice or under dense cover. Weaning starts after about 5 weeks and young are weaned by about 7 weeks.

Range

Botswana, Namibia, South Africa.

Conservation Status

The conservation status in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals is "vulnerable".

Classification Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Felis Species: nigripes

Relatives in same Genus   Jungle Cat (F. chaus)   Pallas' Cat (F. manul)   Sand Cat (F. margarita)   Wildcat (F. silvestris)

Black-footed Cat portrait Photograph by Pierre de Chabannes. Some rights reserved.

Black-footed Cats Photograph by Pierre de Chabannes. Some rights reserved.