{"id":21727,"date":"2022-10-31T10:00:26","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T09:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=69557"},"modified":"2022-10-31T10:21:12","modified_gmt":"2022-10-31T09:21:12","slug":"whats-the-worlds-smallest-cat","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/whats-the-worlds-smallest-cat\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the world\u2019s smallest cat?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Megan Shersby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 31 October 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Vying for first place in the smallest cat in the world category are the rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus<\/em>) and black-footed cat (Felis nigripes<\/em>), which are very close in size, measuring 35-48cm and 35-52cm in length respectively.<\/p>\n

The smallest cats in the world<\/h2>\n
Each cat is the smallest species on its continent \u2013 the rusty-spotted cat is found in Asia (India, Sri Lanka and a small part of Nepal), whilst the black-footed cat (also known as the small-spotted cat) is found in southern African (including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe).<\/p>\n\n<p>Both species are thought to be nocturnal, feeding mainly on rodents and small birds \u2013 though black-footed cats are known to prey on Cape hares which are heavier than the cat.<\/p>\n<h2>The best cat hunter<\/h2>\n<p>Black-footed cats hit their targets 60 per cent of the time, making them the most successful feline hunters and the second-most <a href=\"\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/hunting-success-rates-how-predators-compare\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">successful of the mammals<\/a> (following <a href=\"\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/facts-about-african-wild-dogs\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">African wild dogs<\/a> in first place with 85 per cent).<\/p>\n<div class=\""image-handlercontainer\" image-handlercontainer--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=298%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?quality=90&resize=298%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=353%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?quality=90&resize=353%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=402%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?quality=90&resize=402%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=552%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?quality=90&resize=552%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=618%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?quality=90&resize=618%2C413,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=405%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?quality=90&resize=405%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C370,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-68402\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handlerimage=\"\" image-handlerimage--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/23\/2022\/10\/Black-footed-cat.-GettyImages-200209590-001-1fdcbfc.jpg?quality=90&resize=618%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> <em>Black-footed cat walking under a log at night in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. \u00a9 Gallo Images\/Dave Hamman\/Getty<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Ongoing studies of black-footed cats have revealed that the species feeds on 40 different vertebrates. It catches and eats up to 14 individual small animals each night, and is able to catch birds in flight \u2013 jumping up to 1.4 metres in height to do so.<\/p>\n<p>Though they are named to be black-footed, it\u2019s actually only the soles of their feet that are black or dark brown.<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Deadliest\" cat=\"\" on=\"\" earth=\"\" big=\"\" cats:=\"\" preview=\"\" bbc=\"\" one=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s6d9rqhivQY?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>Whilst the black-footed cat is usually solitary (with the exception of females with kittens), little is known about the behaviour of the rusty-spotted cat.<\/p>\n<p>Black-footed cat is <a href=\"\/\/www.iucnredlist.org\/species\/8542\/177944648"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List<\/a>, and the rusty-spotted cat is <a href=\"\/\/www.iucnredlist.org\/species\/18149\/50662471"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">listed as Near Threatened<\/a>.<\/p>\n<section class=\""highlight\"><div class=\""highlight__content\" editor-content=\"\"> <h4>Learn more about cats:\u00a0<\/h4>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/photo-galleries\/cats-of-the-world\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Gallery: Cats of the world<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/facts-about-big-cats\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Big cat guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/facts-about-scottish-wildcats\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Scottish wildcat guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/pallas-cat-guide-facts\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Pallas cat guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p> <\/p><\/div> <\/section><hr\/><p><em>Main image: Rusty-spotted cat on a tree branch (in captivity). \u00a9 Colin Langford\/500px\/Getty<\/em><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Megan Shersby Published: Monday, 31 October 2022 at 12:00 am Vying for first place in the smallest cat in the world category are the rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) and black-footed cat (Felis nigripes), which are very close in size, measuring 35-48cm and 35-52cm in length respectively. The smallest cats in the world Each cat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":21728,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"2"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/10\/whats-the-worlds-smallest-cat.jpg",1936,1549,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/10\/whats-the-worlds-smallest-cat-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/10\/whats-the-worlds-smallest-cat-300x240.jpg",300,240,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/10\/whats-the-worlds-smallest-cat-768x614.jpg",768,614,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/10\/whats-the-worlds-smallest-cat-1024x819.jpg",800,640,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/10\/whats-the-worlds-smallest-cat-1536x1229.jpg",1536,1229,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2022\/10\/whats-the-worlds-smallest-cat.jpg",1936,1549,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Megan Shersby Published: Monday, 31 October 2022 at 12:00 am Vying for first place in the smallest cat in the world category are the rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) and black-footed cat (Felis nigripes), which are very close in size, measuring 35-48cm and 35-52cm in length respectively. The smallest cats in the world Each cat…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/21727"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}