Black-footed cat - EFBC's Feline Conservation Center
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Black-footed cat
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Black-footed cats
Black-footed cat
(Felis nigripes)
Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, Black-footed cats are the 7th felid species native to South Africa (the others are lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, serval, and African wild cat), and by far the least known. They are the second smallest species of cat, weighing in at 2-5 pounds (1-2.5 kilo). Black-foooted cats are only active at night. It is boldly patterned with blackish oblong spots, and its legs are barred with thick dark stripes. The undersides of their feet are black. The black-footed cat is restricted to the arid lands of Southern Africa. It is typically associated with open, sandy, grassy habitats with sparse shrub and tree cover, such as the Kalahari and Karoo regions. The northernmost records are from Namibia and Botswana although the species may occur in the south-western corner of Angola.
The black-footed cat research group (BFCG) is an international, interdisciplinary team of biologists, zoologists, and veterinarians. They radio collar the cats to learn about distribution, territory sizes, hunting patterns, prey species, and denning behavior.
Butch
Sex: Male
Born: September 12 2008
Arrived at EFBC: October of 2018 from Chicago Zoological Park
Fun Fact:
Arrived at EFBC: October of 2018 from Chicago Zoological Park
Fun Fact:
Favorite Enrichment:
Wishlist item: Cat Cardboard Treehouse
