Black Footed Cat
falls among the smallest breeds of wild cats but however one of the most dangerous: it inhabits the parched savannas and grasslands in Southern Africa. It may be diminutive in size but this little nocturnal is known for being a deadly hunter. It is actually the behavior of a female black footed cat that has gained fame as the deadliest feline by the success rate. In this blog, we shall discuss every aspect, from behavior to appearance. Including the idea of whether keeping the black footed cat as a house pet like the normal cats.
What’s Ahead
• The Black Footed Kitten
• Black Footed Cat Size
• Can You Keep a Black Footed Cat as a Pet?
• Why Keeping a Black Footed Cat Is Not Advisable
• Conclusion
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The Black Footed Kitten: A Tiny Hunter
A black footed kitten may look adorable with its big round eyes and small body but dont be fooled by its appearance. From the very beginning, these kittens prove the hunting skills as they are known for. Black footed kittens grow fast, and within six to eight weeks they already start going after small saturated prey. For food accomplishment, such period of time is an important stage as the African wilderness is filled with perilous threats.
These kittens are born in dens made from hollowed-out termite mounds or abandoned burrows, where they stay out of sight from predators until it is time to follow their mothers. A seemingly helpless black footed kitten turns into one of skilled and deadly hunters in the animal kingdom by the time it becomes an adult.
Black Footed Cat Size: Small Yet Powerful
The black footed cat’s size is surprisingly small with the male’s weight around 2-2.5 kgs and the female’s weight slightly less than 1-1.5 kgs. From head to tail, the length is between 35 & 52 cm and in most cases, a tail will measure along an extra 15-20cm. Despite their miniature size, these species are well built and flexible enabling them to bring down an animal that is bigger than their size.
While they may appear as a small and endangered species, their instincts and abilities make them the alpha of every habitat. The black footed cat may look like an ordinary house cat from a distance, but it is a complete wild hunter inside.
Can You Keep a Black Footed Cat as a Pet?
A black footed cat may look cat alike and a normal house cat from far but it is very important to note that these are wild animals. You cannot keep a black footed cat, as a pet. Black footed cat’s behavior is very aggressive not only to the owner but also to the cat itself. There are some similarities between pet cats and cats from the wild, but even those black footed cats have much more aggression destructive and energetic behavior.
In the wild, African black footed cats cover large areas. Also, the black footed cat has a roaming and hunting behavior and this is true with most animals. Such animals are not tolerant of the care or keeping as pets and also they are highly likely to become aggressive or stressed in the cages. While behavioral interactions may fascinate you but petting or domesticating a black footed pet cat can bring injury to the person and mental distress to the animal.
African Black Footed Cat: A Unique Predator
The African black footed cat is endemic to southern Africa in particular areas characterized by dry land such as the Kalahari Desert and Karoo. This cat which is referred to as a predator in the true sense of the word is largely active at night and hunts for birds, rats and even very small antelope. Its long distance prey stalking techniques enhance its hunting skills and it can kill as many as 14 of such small creatures within one foraging period.
Highly adaptive and skilled in hiding and finding an African black footed cat is a particularly difficult creature to spot in its natural habitat. The authorities have introduced a number of measures which are aimed at containing the population of the cats and their habitats, as people and their activities are the main threats to these creatures. Nevertheless, their numbers are more or less steady, and they possess such astonishing abilities in hunting that the need for man’s protection is not as vital as with other endangered species.
Why Keeping a Black Footed Cat Is Not Advisable: A Thought On The Black Footed Cat as a House Pet.
Some people ask whether it is possible to keep a black footed cat at home since these animals are small and look like house cats. However, these feline creatures are not domesticated at all. They have wild instincts, aggressive hunters, and have many territories far from any place one would consider being enclosed — all of which rule out them being pets.
Moreover, there is the non-ignorable issue of the socio cultural and legal aspects of owning a black footed cat, or any other feline for that matter. In most countries keeping a wildlife animal, even with the necessary permits, which even then more often than not defeats the purpose, is quite impossible. Black footed cats belong to the wild, and they should remain in the wild.
Conclusion
The fact that the black footed cat is a rather small animal does not mean it will not go out into the wild as, a small, dense object and become one of the most feared and successful prey hunters. Pets can be wished about as most if not all exotic and ‘pretty’ cats but these are a black footed cats and as such, cannot be kept in a household because of their wild character. The unique environment and role that these amazing hunters play in the continent’s ecosystem suggest that enjoying them from a distance is more beneficial. Let’s make sure that the black footed citizen does not go extinct and continues to live in the wild where it rightfully belongs.