The black-footed cat is one of those predators that are still poorly understood. Its Latin species name is Felis nigripes. The cat's habitat is limited to some states in southern Africa. These include South Africa, Namibia, part of Angola and Zimbabwe. The habitat of an animal in Botswana remains in question. They used to live there, but there is no modern evidence for this.
Little predator
The black-footed cat is the smallest feline predator on the African continent. The species got its name thanks to 4 black stripes on the soles of the feet of these animals. In winter, the color of individuals becomes paler. A sexually mature male is no longer than 50 cm, and the female is 40 cm. The size of the tail is from 8 to 20 cm. The weight of an adult is from 1.5 to 2.5 kg. In the world there are only two cats comparable in size to the black-footed (Chilean and rusty).
Many tales are composed about the nature of this predator. Some Bushmen tribes are sure that the animal can kill a giraffe. There are many exaggerations in the legends, but observations indicate that kittens have a hunting disposition from birth. There are witnesses of how a wild black-footed cat waited a long time in ambush at an ostrich sitting on a nest, which weighed 80 kg. A moment before the predator jumped, the bird got up and ran away. Her one foot was bigger than a cat.
How to hunt a black-footed cat
The black-footed cat (the photo shows this) has a protective color and prefers the dark for hunting. So it is easier for her to get away from enemies and quietly sneak up on prey. The ears are rounded in shape and large in size for a better perception of quiet and distant sounds. The eyes of the predator are adapted for night hunting. Tapetum is a special layer penetrated by vessels, which is located behind the retina. It reflects light, allowing the cat to see perfectly in the dark. Vision becomes better, and the effect of glowing blue eyes is created.
The black-footed cat is popularly called the "ant tiger." Such fame went thanks to the predator’s habit of living in empty termite mounds and burrows of other animals. Their desire for hunting can only be envied. During the night, cats are able to cover about 16 km by searching for a future prey (small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects). During this time, she makes many jumps for prey with an interval of about 30 minutes. More than 60% of them end badly for mining.
Hunting passion
The black-footed cat during the hunt does not know fear and confidently attacks the prey, which is twice as much as herself. Among the victims may even be a hare or black bustard. If the prey cannot be eaten at a time, then the remains drag into the hole, where the predator will return later. Admires the cat's ability to survive in harsh desert conditions.
The predator, along with other inhabitants of this area, has the ability not to drink for a long time. At this time, moisture enters the body only from the meat of the eaten victims. Not every desert predator can hunt 54 species of animals. The "ant tiger" also likes to delve into the found remains.
Breeding
Cats live scattered all the time, except for the breeding season. The territory of males is from 12 to 15 km 2 . She has intersections with areas of females. Control areas are carefully labeled. Predators are found only for mating, after which they part. Males do not participate in raising kittens. The black-footed cat is born for 63-68 days. Kittens are born pink. They are practically devoid of hair, are born one or two at a time.
Kittens grow completely completely in kittens only at the age of 6 weeks, until this time they feed on mother's milk. In the middle of this period, the animals begin to study the surroundings. When a dangerous situation arises, they do not run home, but scatter and hide in the first shelter they come across. Kittens freeze and wait for the moment when their mother will call them.
At the age of 5 weeks, the cubs begin to receive live prey from the female. She does this to provide an opportunity for the younger generation to learn how to hunt and kill victims. By 7-8 weeks, the cubs independently produce food.
Threat of extinction
No one specifically hunts the black-footed cat, but predators die under the influence of poisons and traps placed on jackals and other animals. Livestock catches pastures that become unsuitable for cats. The consequences are the most severe - the species is steadily declining.
Cats with domestic cats have been reported. The birth of hybrids leads to the degeneration of the population. The animal is in the International Red Book.
Artificial reproduction
The black-footed cat feels uncomfortable at home, she needs room. However, in 2011, two kittens were born in New Orleans who do not realize their uniqueness. Their surrogate mother was the cat Bijou. The male sperm was first frozen and then sent to New Orleans, where it was connected to the egg of a black-footed cat. The result was an embryo that was frozen for 6 years.
The material was thawed and planted by a surrogate mother. The pregnancy lasted 69 days, and as a result, two kittens were born. They became the first representatives of the species that were born from a frozen embryo. A black-footed cat at home resembles an ordinary one. It is worth remembering that populations in their natural habitat are declining. In zoos of all countries there are only about 40 individuals, 19 of them in the United States of America.