Species comparison
European Wildcat vs Black-footed Cat
A side-by-side look at Felis silvestris and Felis nigripes across body measurements, habitat, diet, behaviour and conservation status.
At a glance
- The european wildcat averages about 3.1 times the body mass of the black-footed cat.
- Both species use semi-arid scrub.
- Their ranges do not overlap: European Wildcat lives in Europe and Asia, Black-footed Cat in Africa.
- Red List categories differ: European Wildcat is listed as Least Concern, Black-footed Cat as Vulnerable.
Identification
How each species is named and classified.
European Wildcat
Felis silvestris
Black-footed Cat
Felis nigripes
European Wildcat
Felis
Black-footed Cat
Felis
European Wildcat
Domestic cat lineage
Black-footed Cat
Domestic cat lineage
European Wildcat
Small cats
Black-footed Cat
Small cats
European Wildcat
Forest wildcat, Scottish wildcat
Black-footed Cat
Small spotted cat, Anthill tiger
Body and movement
Published field measurements for adults. Ranges cover both sexes unless noted.
European Wildcat
19 in – 2 ft 7 in (47–80 cm) Longer
Black-footed Cat
14 in – 20 in (36–52 cm)
European Wildcat
10 in – 15 in (26–37 cm) Longer
Black-footed Cat
5 in – 8 in (12–20 cm)
European Wildcat
14 in – 16 in (35–40 cm) Taller
Black-footed Cat
7 in – 10 in (17–25 cm)
European Wildcat
6.6–18 lb (3–8 kg) Heavier
Males commonly 4–8 kg, females 3–5 kg; weight varies seasonally.
Black-footed Cat
2.2–5.5 lb (1–2.5 kg)
Females often weigh little more than a kilogram.
European Wildcat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
Black-footed Cat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
Life span
Typical adult longevity. Figures for managed care come from zoo and sanctuary records.
European Wildcat
7–10 years Longer
Black-footed Cat
6–8 years
European Wildcat
15–18 years Longer
Black-footed Cat
10–14 years
Habitat and range
Where each species lives and the conditions it tolerates.
European Wildcat
temperate forest, montane forest, agricultural mosaic, semi-arid scrub
Deciduous and mixed woodland with dense understorey, forest edge, scrub and riparian corridors, generally below the winter snowline.
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.
European Wildcat
Europe, Asia
Fragmented populations across Iberia, France, Italy, Germany, the Carpathians, the Balkans and Scotland, extending east into Turkey and the Caucasus.
Black-footed Cat
Africa
Restricted to South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, with marginal records from southern Zimbabwe and Angola.
Diet and behaviour
Feeding ecology, social organisation and hunting technique.
European Wildcat
small mammals, hares, birds, reptiles
Voles, mice and rabbits dominate; birds, frogs and insects are taken when rodents are scarce.
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.
European Wildcat
Solitary and territorial
Adults hold woodland ranges marked with scent and claw marks, and avoid open ground where possible.
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.
European Wildcat
Nocturnal and crepuscular
Primarily night active, with more daytime movement in undisturbed forest and during cold weather.
Black-footed Cat
Nocturnal
Emerges after dark and remains active for most of the night, returning to shelter before dawn.
European Wildcat
Stalk and pounce along cover edges
Works woodland margins, hedgerows and clearings, listening for rodents in ground vegetation.
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.
European Wildcat
Strong More developed
Climbs confidently and dens in hollow trees and root cavities.
Black-footed Cat
Limited
A ground specialist that seldom climbs; its habitat is largely treeless.
European Wildcat
Limited More developed
Avoids water and swims only when necessary.
Black-footed Cat
Very limited
Occupies arid habitat with almost no standing water.
Conservation
Red List category, population direction and the pressures documented for each species.
European Wildcat
LC — Least Concern
Assessed 2022
Black-footed Cat
VU — Vulnerable
Assessed 2016
European Wildcat
Decreasing
Black-footed Cat
Decreasing
European Wildcat
Hybridisation with feral domestic cats, Disease from domestic cats, Woodland fragmentation, Road mortality, Accidental trapping
Listed as Least Concern overall, but several regional populations are in serious trouble. The Scottish population reached the point where conservation breeding and release became the main recovery tool.
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.
Notable traits
Details that do not fit neatly into a measurement table.
European Wildcat
- The tail is the most reliable field mark: thick, blunt-ended and marked with distinct dark rings.
- Hybridisation is now measured genetically, since intermediate animals can look entirely wild.
- Reinforcement releases have been used in Scotland after the wild population declined to a critical level.
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.
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.
- World Wildlife Fund Range descriptions, threat summaries and conservation programme reporting.
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Reviewed species accounts with morphometric ranges and reproductive data.
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Body measurements, longevity records and life-history notes.