Indeed, there exists a peculiar species of cat in the world. These cats have round eyes and mottled fur, featuring black stripes on their bodies and tails. Contrary to their small and adorable appearance, these cats have become a “fearsome” predator to many other creatures.
Few would guess that beneath the cute exterior of the Black-footed Cat lies a hunting ability that even other renowned feline predators, such as tigers, leopards, and lions, cannot match.
Black-footed Cat.
Scientists refer to these cats as Felis nigripes, and each night they can travel up to 20 miles in search of prey.
The black-footed cat is considered the smallest cat species in Africa, even smaller than typical alley cats, but do not be deceived by its petite stature, as it is indeed the most effective hunting cat in the world.
This adorable creature has a rapid metabolism, requiring it to hunt almost continuously, which means it can kill an average of 10 to 14 rodents or small birds each night—more victims than a leopard manages in a month.
Moreover, its hunting success rate is around 60%, while lions only succeed in catching their prey about 20 to 25% of the time.
The eyesight of the black-footed cat is six times better than that of humans. Its night vision and hearing are incredibly sharp. Black-footed cats are primarily nocturnal, especially active after sunset. Before sunrise, they return to rest in the burrows of other animals or hide among rocks or hollow termite mounds.
To successfully catch prey, black-footed cats employ three different hunting techniques simultaneously. These include the stalking technique, which is utilized when hunting in dense brush. The black-footed cat quietly weaves through bushes and grasslands, searching for potential prey. Sometimes, they lie in ambush at the entrance of a prey’s burrow, even waiting for hours. As soon as the prey shows its face, the black-footed cat pounces, knocking it out of the burrow and capturing it. Additionally, black-footed cats possess an extremely swift hunting technique, darting through tall grass in an instant to catch birds or mice.
Black-footed cat silently hunting among bushes. (Photo: NatGeo)
In fact, the hunting skills of black-footed cats have been featured in the PBS Nature miniseries “Super Cats“. There is a legend in Africa stating that black-footed cats can take down giraffes by severing their carotid arteries.
However, black-footed cats are not particularly adept climbers. Therefore, they do not inhabit tree branches. Zoologists explain that their short tails and body shapes prevent them from climbing trees as easily as other cat species. Instead, the “noble” black-footed cats spend significant time digging and expanding their burrows, establishing their territories in sandy soils.
Black-footed cats are only found in three countries in southern Africa: Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, and this species is considered rare compared to other cats on the African continent.
They prefer grasslands, scrub deserts, and sandy plains—areas with high densities of rodents and birds.
Most of the time, black-footed cats tend to live alone, except during mating seasons and when raising their young. The mating period for black-footed cats is short. Female cats are in heat for only 1 to 2 days, and they will only mate with males for 5 to 10 hours during that time. Additionally, during this period, black-footed cats can emit special sounds to help them find mates quickly and effectively.
Females typically give birth to two litters each year, with a gestation period of 63 to 68 days. On average, mother cats give birth to 1-4 kittens at a time, weighing only 2 to 3 ounces at birth. They will be weaned after 3 months. Mother cats catch and leave live prey in the burrow for the kittens to practice hunting. After 3-4 months, the kittens can live independently and reach sexual maturity at 8 to 12 months of age.
This black-footed cat is facing several threats caused by humans.
According to the International Association, black-footed cats are at risk of extinction. A single black-footed cat can hunt and consume up to 3,000 rodents each year.
There is even a local African legend stating that black-footed cats can take down giraffes.
Clearly, this is merely a myth, but it reflects the persistence of this incredibly cute yet natural-born killer.
Unfortunately, the black-footed cats of Africa are facing numerous threats caused by humans, ranging from habitat destruction to a declining prey population, especially due to overgrazing by livestock.
