The delightful African cat Gaia, with her adorable black paws, steals the spotlight in charming new videos recently shared by the Utah zoo where she resides. Despite her innocent appearance with big eyes and fluffy fur, Gaia is actually one of the deadliest wild cats in the world. In the latest footage from Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Gaia is seen stretching out on a log in her enclosure, showcasing her beautiful black stripes and tiny toes. Another video on the zoo’s Instagram account captures the three-pound cat curiously looking around and twitching her ears. One fan of Gaia commented, ‘So cute and fluffy, yet so deadly!’
An adorable African black-footed cat named Gaia is stealing hearts in a delightful new video shared from her home at the Utah zoo.
Recently released footage from Hogle Zoo captures Gaia confidently roaming on a log in her enclosure, showing off her distinct black stripes and dainty toes. One observer even remarked, “She’s fluffy, she’s sassy, and she’s deadly.”
Gaia made her way to Utah last October from Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas, where she was born in a litter of four in May. After making her public debut in January, this speckled feline was affectionately referred to as a ‘pretty feisty cat’ and a ‘mighty warrior’ by the zoo’s Associate Director, Bob Cisneros.
This fierce huntress is kept on a diet of ground bone, skeletal muscle, organs, and the occasional mouse that has been ethically euthanized through the zoo’s suppliers. Gaia was brought to the zoo based on a breeding recommendation from the Black-Footed Cat Consortium.
Hogle Zoo is also home to Ryder, a male black-footed cat, who is anticipated to be introduced to Gaia at a later date. The zoo hinted at the possibility of their meeting, stating that it will occur when Gaia reaches maturity. These two feline companions will take their time to get familiar with one another.
Known for their deadly hunting skills, black-footed cats have an impressive 60 percent success rate compared to larger cats, which typically have a success rate of around 20 percent.
Even though Gaia may not appear impressive, black-foot cats are actually considered some of the most lethal felines on the planet.
Gaia, a small African cat with black paws, traveled to Utah from Glen Rose, Texas in October. She was born in May before starting her journey.
Black-footed cats are highly skilled predators, boasting an impressive 60 percent hunting success rate which far exceeds the average 20 percent success rate of larger felines.
As per the Hogle Zoo, carnivores in the wild can consume up to 3,000 rodents annually.
In the image, Gaia can be seen munching on a bone as part of her strict and specialized diet she is currently following. According to the Hogle Zoo, carnivores like Gaia can consume approximately 3,000 rodents annually in their natural habitats, along with birds, reptiles, insects, and spiders.
“These little critters are fierce hunters. They have quite a reputation for being aggressive hunters,” Cisneros pointed out. Despite their small size, they can leap up to five feet high and cover a distance of six-and-a-half feet.
Native to Africa, black-footed cats are mainly found in the dry eastern regions of Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. They hold the title of the smallest wild cat species on the continent and are referred to as “ant-hill tigers” in Afrikaans.
Considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, these killer cats are only one step away from being classified as endangered. A study conducted in 2016 estimated that there are roughly 9,700 black-footed cats residing in the wild in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.