The World's Second Smallest Feline

The black-footed cat holds the title of the smallest cat in Africa. It faces several threats, including habitat loss due to human encroachment, hunting and trapping for fur, competition with other predators, prey depletion, predation by domestic animals, and climate change and extreme weather. Overgrazing by livestock is prevalent throughout its range, leading to a reduced prey base. Indiscriminate poisoning of carcasses to kill Caracals and jackals also affects the black-footed cat as they readily scavenge. Conservation efforts are being made to protect and breed the species for future rewilding in reserves.