Black legged cat | Facts & Information

# Black-legged cat | Facts & Information

Black-legged cat | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Black-legged cat

The black-footed Wildcat (Felis nigripes) is part of the order Cranivora and the family Felidae. It can be found in the desert and savanna areas of Southern Africa. It is a species endemic to South Africa that lives only in Namibia, but also in Botswana, Zimbabwe or Angola.

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Black-legged Cat

Black-legged cat

The Black-legged Cat is a breed of cats originating from the Transylvania region. This breed is distinguished by the presence of distinct black legs, which add a special charm to this elegant and playful creature.

One of the distinctive features of the Black-legged Cat is the black color of its legs, which provides a clear differentiation from other breeds of cats. Most cats have dark-colored legs, but the major difference is that the legs of the Black-legged Cat are completely black, without any trace of another color or pattern.

This breed of cats is beloved for its lively and cheerful personality, always ready to play and have fun. Black-legged Cats are known for their agility and extraordinary reflexes, being capable of jumping and climbing with ease.

Additionally, these cats are excellent hunters, able to hunt mice and other rodents with great precision and passion. Thanks to their strong legs and agility, Black-legged Cats are always in optimal shape to fulfill their role as hunters.

Black-legged Cats have a very beautiful coat, although they are not recognized for their pure breeds. These cats have a double layer of fur, with a soft outer layer and a dense inner layer, which protects them from the cold and extreme weather conditions.

Due to this double layer of fur and their ability to groom themselves, Black-legged Cats are generally clean and do not require intensive care from their owners. However, it is recommended to provide them with proper hygiene, such as regular brushing to prevent the formation of knots and the removal of any potential parasites.

Black-legged Cats are also known for their intelligence and ability to learn tricks and basic commands. These cats can be easily trained to perform various actions and respond to vocal commands or visual signals.

This breed of cats is perfect for families with children or in crowded environments, as these cats get along great with people and are very affectionate. Black-legged Cats are often seen as ideal pets because they are intelligent, curious, and very loving.

Black-legged Cats need regular exercise and mental stimulation to maintain their well-being and prevent the development of destructive behaviors caused by boredom. These cats should have access to play areas and a variety of toys to put their energy and intelligence to use.

Although Black-legged Cats are generally healthy and resilient, they may suffer from certain breed-specific conditions, such as gingival diseases and obesity. It is important for cat owners to provide a balanced diet and pay special attention to oral hygiene to prevent such problems.

In conclusion, the Black-legged Cat is an extraordinary breed of cats, full of charm and playfulness. These cats stand out with their distinct black legs and their cheerful and loving personality. With proper hygiene and careful attention, Black-legged Cats can bring a lot of joy and happiness into the lives of any family.

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Origin

It cannot be bred in captivity because it cannot be tamed. At the moment it is not in danger of extinction. Many die poisoned with pesticides to combat locusts or bait to combat rodents and jackals. The number of specimens in the Wild is about 10,000. Unfortunately the number is decreasing due to the imputination of food.

It can be found in specialized or foreign literature under the names: Black-footed Cat, Small-spotted Cat, Chat a Pieds noirs, Gato De Pies Negros, Gato Patinegro, Schwarzfusskatze.

Feeding black-legged cat

The black-legged cat is a greedy predator that has adapted well to the environment in which it lives. Its main food consists of small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians. It also feeds on spiders, insects (ants, termites, grasshoppers) that it hunts at night.

It is active more at night. One of the favorite ways to hunt cats is ambush. It follows its prey and waits for it standing motionless in close proximity until it enters its attack range. Usually the classic method in which a feline kills an animal is by suffocation. She sticks her claws into him and bites him around the neck.

A study that was conducted in the field for 6 years shows that it fed on small mammals(39%), larger mammals (17%) and small birds. According to the study it catches 5-6 species per night. 50% of the food that catches it at night is brought to the burrow when it has cubs.

Appearance black-legged cat

The black-legged cat is one of the smallest felines. Definitely the smallest cat in Africa and probably the smallest cat in the world. It is no smaller than an ordinary cat.

It has a body length of 35 to 50cm, a height of 25cm at geaban and a weight of 2-3kg(about 1.5 kg for the female and 2 for the male ). It differs very easily from other felines by coat color.

The coat is light brown with dark brown spots and streaks. The head is well proportioned, the ears are rather large pointing upwards. The legs are short and strong ending with fur-covered detele that helps it move without making noise. Each finger ends with a retractable claw.

The muzzle has a large opening, and the pupils dilate at night for a better view. The eyes are large, light in color, directed forward. The tail is 15 - 20cm long and represents almost half the length of the body.

Behavior black-legged cat

The black-footed cat is an animal that has adapted well to open areas where it is constantly on the lookout for small rodents and ground-dwelling birds. They are solitary animals. The territory of the male is larger than that of the female. Adults walk between 6 and 10km per night.

Despite their small size they are considered the smartest African felines. During the day when it is warm, it shelters in the burrow of other animals or after a rock if it is in the area. Being solitary animals they are not very talkative. Communicate with neighbors through traces of urine. Urine is used for two purposes: to delimit territory and to warn intruders during mating.

The enemies of the black-footed wild cat are primarily humans. Natural enemies are raptors, snakes and jackals.

Breeding black-legged cat

During the breeding season after the partners are chosen, both the male and the female mark the territory with jets of urine. If they are generally discreet animals that do not want to be seen or heard, during this period they show their aggression and attack potential intruders.

They live in burrows that they dig or use abandoned Ant Burrows. The territory of the male overlaps 5 territories of the females, and the females usually only overlap with the territory of a single male 50% of the area.

The female and male stay together for only 5 to 10 hours while copulation lasts. It takes place in August and September. Females can have several births in a year.

After copulation follows the gestation period of 60-70 days in which the female gives birth to 1-4 Cubs weighing less than 100 grams. They are born blind and are totally dependent on the mother who breastfeeds them for a month. After a month they begin to eat solid food, and at the age of 3 months they become independent.

They reach maturity around the age of one year. Life expectancy is around 13 years in the wild and 16 years in captivity.

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