Black-footed Cat is the smallest wild cat in Africa. It is reputed to be a very fierce cat.
Black-Footed Cat, Felis Nigripes, is one of the tiniest wild cat
species in the world. Despite its small size, the cat is quite powerful
and resilient, well known in local folklore for its bravery.
Fur
is tawny to reddish in color and marked by dark spots that form stripes
on limbs. The undersides of the feet are black, thus the name, and so
is the tip of tail. Head is broad and ears rounded, the former often
appearing large in contrast to the small body size. In aggressive and
hunting profile, the ears are often flattened as the cat goes after its
prey with practically no cover over the vast plains of its natural
habitat.
Usually insects, small animals including rodents and
birds are taken by this solitary and nocturnal feline. Opportunistic
predators, they often attack birds and their young in the nest,
consuming eggs. Larger prey species including adult Cape Hares and even
the young of sheep are preyed upon by this courageous feline as it
takes down bigger animals by hanging to their neck and biting through
the victim’s jugular vein. Successful hunters, Black-footed cats
usually employ the stalk and ambush method and often consume large
feeds during a hunting session, up to one fifth of their own body
weight. Like some big cats, they have a habit of caching and returning
to their prey later on. The lack of water in their habitat means that
the cats quench their thirst through the moisture obtained from their
kills. At times grass is also eaten, possibly to regulate the digestive
system.
Expert at climbing and digging, the Black-footed cats
usually spend their day time residing in burrows and termite mounds,
giving rise to their name ‘the Ant-hill Tiger’. At night the felines
move over large distances, eliciting loud meows to communicate with
each other - the sounds often compared to a tiger’s roar. As part of
adaptation for survival on the unforgiving African plains the
Black-footed Cat, also known as the ‘little spotted cat’, has a limited
estrus cycle and gestation period - the female only receptive for a few
hours over a day and a half period, and giving birth to a small litter
of one to two kittens after a pregnancy lasting just over two months,
meaning that the tiny cat is vulnerable for a very short period of time
from predators like jackals and big night owls. Young grow quickly but
gain independence at a longish age of nearly two years. Lifespan of
over ten years is recorded in captivity.
Like its northern cousin
the Sand Cat, the Black-footed Cat resides in dry areas and plains,
only in the southern African nations of Botswana, Namibia and South
Africa , even though sightings have been reported in Mozambique and
Zimbabwe. Two subspecies are described over its geographical range:
Felis Nigripes Nigripes - northern South Africa and Namibia
Felis Nigripes Thomasi - southern South Africa and Botswana
Experts argue over the conservation status of the Black-footed Cat. It’s exact numbers in the wild are not certain.
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