The Black-footed cat is one of the smallest cat species in the world, less than half the size of an average domestic cat.
The cat is very similar looking to a long-haired domestic cat, and has a short thin tapering tail.
It has a large broad head relative to its small body and often flattens its ears.
COAT
The coat is pale and has numerous small dark spots all over it. The spots sometimes join to form stripes or bars, especially on the legs. The coat pattern is unique for each cat and can be used to identify individuals.
The base colour ranges from reddish-fawn in the southern parts of its range to much paler in the northern drier regions.
The short tail has black rings and a black tip.
The pads of the feet are black (which is where the species name comes from) and have long black hairs [Pic Right]. The hairs help silence the approach of the cat, as well as protecting its feet from the heat of the ground.
