The number of one of Africa's rarest and deadliest killers is one the rise in Texas. And at most, they only weight about 4 pounds.
Thirteen black-footed cats have been born at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, in Glen Rose. It's a conservation effort to raise the number of the animals and bring more public awareness to them.
Janice Thompson, a veterinary technician and part of the management team for the Black-footed Cat Consortium, told Texas Monthly, "One of our goals is to raise awareness of the species as a whole, because we really need support from the public.
"It's the rarest African cat. We're working really hard to increase their numbers."
Despite weighing only 4.2 pounds on average, the black-footed cat is one of Africa's deadliest killers, with the ability to catch more prey in one night than a leopard might in six months.
And don't be fooled by the adorableness that you see before you. These kitties can be vicious.
Amanda Collins, the carnivore curator at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, said, "Think of your house cat when they don't want to be petted, times ten—that's what these guys are like.
"They do not bluff if they want to do something. And we frequently tell them that: 'I know you would. You would kill me in a heartbeat if you could.'"
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow 100.3 JACK-FM
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
