Species comparison
Black-footed Cat vs African Wildcat
A side-by-side look at Felis nigripes and Felis lybica across body measurements, habitat, diet, behaviour and conservation status.
At a glance
- The african wildcat averages about 2.7 times the body mass of the black-footed cat.
- Both species use semi-arid scrub and grassland.
- Their ranges both include Africa.
- Red List categories differ: Black-footed Cat is listed as Vulnerable, African Wildcat as Least Concern.
Identification
How each species is named and classified.
Black-footed Cat
Felis nigripes
African Wildcat
Felis lybica
Black-footed Cat
Felis
African Wildcat
Felis
Black-footed Cat
Domestic cat lineage
African Wildcat
Domestic cat lineage
Black-footed Cat
Small cats
African Wildcat
Small cats
Black-footed Cat
Small spotted cat, Anthill tiger
African Wildcat
Near Eastern wildcat, Asiatic wildcat
Body and movement
Published field measurements for adults. Ranges cover both sexes unless noted.
Black-footed Cat
14 in – 20 in (36–52 cm)
African Wildcat
18 in – 2 ft 6 in (45–75 cm) Longer
Black-footed Cat
5 in – 8 in (12–20 cm)
African Wildcat
10 in – 15 in (25–38 cm) Longer
Black-footed Cat
7 in – 10 in (17–25 cm)
African Wildcat
13 in – 15 in (32–38 cm) Taller
Black-footed Cat
2.2–5.5 lb (1–2.5 kg)
Females often weigh little more than a kilogram.
African Wildcat
6.6–14 lb (3–6.5 kg) Heavier
Males average about a kilogram heavier than females.
Black-footed Cat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
African Wildcat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
Life span
Typical adult longevity. Figures for managed care come from zoo and sanctuary records.
Black-footed Cat
6–8 years
African Wildcat
8–12 years Longer
Black-footed Cat
10–14 years
African Wildcat
15–17 years Longer
Habitat and range
Where each species lives and the conditions it tolerates.
Black-footed Cat
semi-arid scrub, grassland, desert
Open, dry short-grass plains and Karoo scrub with termite mounds and rodent burrows for shelter; it avoids both rocky mountain terrain and dense woodland.
African Wildcat
savanna, semi-arid scrub, dry forest, grassland, agricultural mosaic
Almost every habitat in Africa except rainforest interior and the driest sand seas, plus scrub and steppe across the Middle East and Central Asia.
Black-footed Cat
Africa
Restricted to South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, with marginal records from southern Zimbabwe and Angola.
African Wildcat
Africa, Asia
Across Africa outside the Congo rainforest, and through the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, Central Asia and into western India and China.
Diet and behaviour
Feeding ecology, social organisation and hunting technique.
Black-footed Cat
small mammals, birds, insects, reptiles
Gerbils, mice, shrews, larks and other ground birds, plus large insects; prey is small, and a great many items are needed each night.
African Wildcat
small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects
Rodents form the great majority of the diet, with birds, lizards and insects making up the remainder.
Black-footed Cat
Solitary
Shelters by day in hollow termite mounds and abandoned burrows — the origin of its local nickname — and hunts alone through the night.
African Wildcat
Solitary
Solitary and territorial, though tolerant of human settlement — the same trait that started the domestication process.
Black-footed Cat
Nocturnal
Emerges after dark and remains active for most of the night, returning to shelter before dawn.
African Wildcat
Nocturnal and crepuscular
Mostly active from dusk to dawn, resting by day in burrows, thickets and rock crevices.
Black-footed Cat
Continuous fast-paced hunting
Uses three modes: a fast hunt through grass, a slow stalking search, and patient waiting at rodent burrow entrances.
African Wildcat
Stalk and pounce on rodents
Hunts by walking slowly through cover, freezing at sounds and finishing with a short rush.
Black-footed Cat
Limited
A ground specialist that seldom climbs; its habitat is largely treeless.
African Wildcat
Strong More developed
Climbs well and uses trees for escape and rest.
Black-footed Cat
Very limited
Occupies arid habitat with almost no standing water.
African Wildcat
Very limited
Avoids water, in common with most arid-country cats.
Conservation
Red List category, population direction and the pressures documented for each species.
Black-footed Cat
VU — Vulnerable
Assessed 2016
African Wildcat
LC — Least Concern
Assessed 2022
Black-footed Cat
Decreasing
African Wildcat
Decreasing
Black-footed Cat
Poisoning aimed at jackals and other carnivores, Overgrazing and loss of prey, Road mortality, Predation by domestic dogs, Disease in small populations
A small range, low population density and heavy exposure to poisoning and predator-control measures aimed at other species keep this cat under pressure.
African Wildcat
Hybridisation with domestic cats, Disease transmitted by domestic cats, Habitat conversion, Persecution near poultry, Road mortality
The species remains widespread, but genetic mixing with free-ranging domestic cats is eroding wild populations, particularly near settlements. Pure wild-type populations are increasingly restricted to remote areas.
Notable traits
Details that do not fit neatly into a measurement table.
Black-footed Cat
- Field studies record hunting success on roughly six of every ten attempts, the highest documented rate for any cat.
- It uses hollow termite mounds as dens, which is why farmers call it the anthill tiger.
- Despite its tiny size it is famously intolerant of handling and does not tame.
African Wildcat
- All domestic cats descend from this species, not from the European wildcat.
- Wild individuals sit with a distinctly upright posture that helps separate them from feral tabbies.
- Genetic screening is now a standard part of conservation work, since appearance alone cannot confirm a pure wild animal.
Sources used for this comparison
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Global assessment categories, population trends and documented threats.
- IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group Species accounts, distribution notes and Cat News reporting for every wild felid.
- Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation Dedicated research and field reporting on the lesser-known felids.
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Body measurements, longevity records and life-history notes.
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Reviewed species accounts with morphometric ranges and reproductive data.
- National Geographic — Animals General natural-history reference for behaviour, range and ecology.