Black-footed cat: The deadliest cat in the world is delicate and shy

Extremely successful hunters
Little killer – the black-footed cat is the deadliest cat in the world

The black-footed cat is small and weighs significantly less than most domestic cats. But it preys more than any other cat species. A few facts about the petite killers on four paws.

Black-footed cats look cute with their big eyes, big ears, and spotted and striped fur. They are vaguely reminiscent of domestic tabby cats.

But there is a difference to all of its relatives in the animal kingdom: no cat kills more prey than the black-footed cat – and it is small, with a maximum body length of around 45 centimeters and a maximum weight of around two and a half kilos. In Africa, where the black-footed cat is native, it is the smallest wild cat species. Most of our domestic cats are also larger and heavier than these furry mini-killers. Female animals are smaller than males.

Black-footed cats live in southern Africa and are threatened

Most people have probably never heard of this species of wild cat, which lives in the dry areas in the south Africa lives, mainly in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. However, the population of the black-footed cat has been considered endangered for 20 years. This animal species does not exist in European zoos – the reason for this is a fatal metabolic disease within the zoo population, which ultimately caused it to die out a few years ago.

The black-footed cat is currently becoming a little better known thanks to fascinating footage from the BBC, which shows a female animal in the wild with her young and hunting at night.

A large part of the life of these nocturnal wild cats revolves around hunting. The animals eat about a fifth of their body weight night after night and strike prey – especially smaller rodents – about every 30 to 50 minutes during their hunting trips. But birds and even grasshoppers are also on the black-footed cat’s menu. According to experts, they are also able to kill slightly larger animals, roughly the size of a chicken or a rabbit.

Well over half of all black-footed cat hunting attempts are successful

Sneak up, startle them – and then lunge at the animal being stalked: a good 60 percent of hunting attempts bring prey, according to reports on these animals. According to the BBC, this is the highest success rate ever in the cat kingdom, which is why the pretty little kitty is described – somewhat luridly – by the BBC’s animal filmmakers as the “deadliest cat in the world”.

But it’s true. No other cat hunts so intensively and efficiently. It takes a leopard more than half a year to capture as many animals as a black-footed cat in one night, says the BBC report. However – a leopard also thinks bigger and doesn’t bother with grasshoppers.

The small cats are completely harmless to humans. They are also very difficult to find in their few distribution areas. Black-footed cats are shy and hide during the day in other animals’ abandoned burrows on the ground or in the ground. They even expand these burrows – which is also different from other cats – by digging with both paws. Black-footed cats sometimes reside in abandoned termite mounds, which has earned them the nickname “ant tigers.”

Black-footed cats run many kilometers on their forays

At night, the little killers emerge from their burrows to do what they are famous for: hunting. They cover large distances. According to the information, the female in the BBC documentary can travel up to 30 kilometers in a single night. No wonder they have to catch so many small animals – their energy requirements are high. But they drink next to nothing. The black-footed cat covers almost all of its fluid needs through its food.

By the way, the name “black-footed cat” is not entirely logical. Because the animals’ paws are not black – only their undersides and the pads.

Sources: BBC film contribution“Wamiz.de“, “Zoo animal lexicon” The green Wuppertal Zoo

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