Black-Footed Cat Information
The black-footed cat is a small wild cat native to three southern nations in Africa. It can be found in the wild only in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, where it is secretive and rarely seen.
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Identification
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Black-footed cats are small, with tawny base coloration and black spots along their bodies. The legs of black-footed cats have dark stripes, and the bottoms of their feet are solid black, lending them their common name.
Size
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Black-footed cats are among the smallest wild cats in the world and are the smallest in Africa. They seldom weigh more than four pounds and generally measure between 19 and 24 inches in length.
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Habitat
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These wild cats thrive in arid regions, including the desert and dry savannahs. They will often spend the heat of the day in hollowed-out termite mounds or underground burrows.
Diet
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Black-footed cats are opportunistic predators that feed primarily on small mammals and birds, but will also eat insects, reptiles and carrion when available.
Fun Fact
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Black-footed cats have adapted very well to their dry habitat. They've developed the ability to go for extended amounts of time without drinking water. Instead, these nocturnal predators get the water they need from their food and by licking the dew off of plants.
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