The African black-footed cat is one of the world’s smallest and rarest cat species, not to mention one of the least studied. Full-grown cats, native to southern Africa, weigh just 1.3 to 1.9 kilograms and have a body length of about 36 to 63 centimeters, not including the tail. The species, listed as vulnerable to extinction on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species, has a shrinking population—fewer than 10,000 individuals—and has only been studied once in the wild.
“Rare African Kittens Bred from Frozen Eggs and Sperm,” Scientific American
Dr. Sliwa came to understand how local people have such respect for these little cats; they don’t shy away from biting and stinging prey like scorpions and snakes; he’s seen a cat jump with bared claws and fangs into the face of a black-backed jackal, an animal 8 times the size of the cat; they stalk springbok lambs, blue cranes and even bigger birds. Experiences convinced him that pound for pound, these tenacious little cats are as bold and fierce as their reputation suggests.
“Black Footed Cat Research Project,” International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada
