The tiniest cat in the world is the rusty-spotted cat, which weighs just 2.0 to 3.5 lbs and only grows to about the size of an eight-week-old kitten. South Africa’s black-footed/small spotted cat only grows to a max of about 3.5 to 5.4 lbs. Despite their small size, rusty-spotted cats are fierce predators. They hunt small birds, rodents, and lizards, and have been known to take down prey that is larger than themselves. They are also excellent climbers, able to scale trees and other objects with ease. Rusty-spotted cats are solitary animals, only coming together to mate. Females give birth to litters of two or three kittens, which they raise on their own.

Sadly, like many wild cats, rusty-spotted cats are threatened by habitat loss and poaching. Their populations are declining, and they are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. If you’re interested in learning more about these fascinating felines, there are many resources available online. You can also support conservation efforts by donating to organizations that work to protect endangered species like the rusty-spotted cat.

The rusty-spotted cat is the world’s smallest cat, and while they may be tiny, they are mighty predators. They face many threats in the wild, but with the help of conservation efforts, we can work to protect these amazing animals for future generations to enjoy. 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 – jumping up to 1.4 metres in height to do so.

Though they are named to be black-footed, it’s actually only the soles of their feet that are black or dark brown.

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.