Head to head
Rusty-spotted Cat vs Black-footed Cat
Rusty-spotted Cat
VS Black-footed Cat
The rusty-spotted cat of India and Sri Lanka and the black-footed cat of southern Africa compete for the title of the smallest wild cat, and both are small, spotted night hunters.
| Rusty-spotted Cat | Black-footed Cat | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Prionailurus rubiginosus | Felis nigripes |
| Weight | Around 1 to 1.6 kg | 1 to 2.5 kg |
| Claim to fame | Among the smallest cats in the world | The smallest wild cat in Africa and among the smallest in the world |
| Coat | Grey-brown with rusty-brown spots and streaks | Tawny with bold black spots and stripes |
| Hunting | Rodents, small birds, lizards, and frogs, mostly at night | Succeeds in roughly 60 percent of hunts, making 10 to 14 kills a night |
| Habitat | Forest and grassland | Dry open grassland, scrub, and semi-desert |
| Native range | Scattered areas of India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal | Southern Africa, mainly South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened | Vulnerable |
Rusty-spotted Cat vs Black-footed Cat: common questions
Which is smaller, the rusty-spotted cat or the black-footed cat?
They are close in size, with the rusty-spotted cat weighing around 1 to 1.6 kg and the black-footed cat 1 to 2.5 kg, and both rank among the smallest cats in the world.
Which is the more successful hunter?
The black-footed cat, which succeeds in roughly 60 percent of its hunting attempts, a far higher rate than a lion or domestic cat.
Where are the rusty-spotted cat and black-footed cat found?
The rusty-spotted cat is found in scattered areas of India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, while the black-footed cat lives in the dry grasslands and semi-deserts of southern Africa.