There are no adverse effects of black-footed cats on humans, although they may bite in self-defense, such as when harassed. Their prey are small and do not include human livestock.
Where does the most lethal cat in the world live?
The black-footed cat lives in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. They occupy a burrow that other animals once occupied and reside in arid Savannah regions. They can also be found residing in deserted termite mounds, which is how their moniker “ant tigers” originated.
The Black Footed Cat has an extremely fascinating fact: they don’t require a lot of water. Indeed, their bodies have adapted to this climate because they live in a dry habitat. To stay hydrated, though, they require a comparatively large amount of food (250g of meat per day).
Unfortunately, the African Black-footed cat faces extinction, just like many other animals do. Added to the “IUCN Red List of Endangered Species” in 2002, the species Because of the lack of awareness, donations are insufficient, which is why a number of organizations are dedicated to protecting them.
2014 saw the 8-month-old Gaia join Salt Lake City’s Hogle Zoo as part of a conservation initiative for the endangered breed. When Gaia reaches adulthood, Hogle Zoo intends to mate her with Ryder, another black-footed cat. Additionally, it is hoped that Gaia’s arrival at the zoo will draw attention to this underappreciated species from new angles. The Black footed cat with her offspring ©Shutterstock.
Kidney disease is another factor contributing to their extinction; an unexpectedly high number of black-footed cats are affected by it. There is a protein that destroys and poisons their kidneys. Research has not revealed the reason why so many cats are afflicted by this illness. The issue is that they become ill earlier and earlier, which means they either never reproduce at all or only do so once. That is far too little to preserve the species.
Can we all just pause for a moment to admire the black-footed cat’s post-kill face, please?
Honestly, you just have to watch the whole video here. For all the small and ferocious people out there, consider the black-footed cat your new patronus.
Yes, this little spotted puff is a ruthless killer and you should be extremely afraid of it, especially if you’re a small rodent or insect!
In elementary school, my music teacher used to comfort me about my extreme short stature by telling me that “dynamite comes in small packages.” It didn’t help, though I appreciated the sentiment.
However, a recent video from the BBC’s Big Cats series shows that this truism—that the world’s deadliest cat is also the tiniest cat on the African continent—is accurate.
FAQ
How dangerous is the black-footed cat?
Can a black-footed cat be a pet?
What are the most dangerous cats to humans?
Do black-footed cats mate with domestic cats?