The black-footed cat (Felis nigripes), also called the small-spotted cat, is the smallest wild cat in Africa, having a head-and-body length of 35–52 cm (14–20 in). Despite its name, only the soles of its feet are black or dark brown.

Felis is a genus of small and medium-sized cat species native to most of Africa and south of 60° latitude in Europe and Asia to Indochina. The genus includes the domestic cat. The smallest of the seven Felis species is the black-footed cat with a …

May 14, 2018 · The black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) might weigh as much as a lion’s paw, but it is as vicious as the rest of the wild cat family. Here are 9 facts about the black-footed cat, also known as the small-spotted cat, that you need to know:

Black footed cats have always been considered rare in the wild and are protected in their native habitats. CITES list them on Appendix I and they are considered endangered by the US Endangered Species Act.

Jul 22, 2022 · The Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) is a solitary, secretive and nocturnal felid endemic to the south-west arid zone of southern Africa. It is the smallest wild African cat and the second smallest cat in the world.

Mar 25, 2025 · The Felis lineage consists of six small wild cats in the Felis genus as well as the domestic cat (Felis catus). Except for the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), all the other species in this group weigh less than ten kilograms, and the Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes) is generally regarded as the second smallest cat of all the Felidae species. Common ...

Jan 30, 2025 · The Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes) is the smallest cat in Africa and the second smallest of all wild cats. It is endemic to the arid regions of southern Africa where it is naturally rare and occurs at low densities.

The Black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) is the smallest wild cat in Africa. The first black-footed cat known to science was discovered in the northern Karoo of South Africa and described in 1824. This rare and secretive cat usually rests in burrows during the day and hunts at night.

The black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) is Africa’s smallest wild cat species. It is found only in southern Africa in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. This tiny nocturnal predator is often referred to as “the world’s deadliest cat” because of its unusually high hunting success rate.

This secretive and rare cat is among the smallest of the world’s cats, and is the smallest wild cat in Africa. The coat of the black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) varies from cinnamon buff to tawny, and is patterned with black or brown oblong spots, offering effective camouflage.