Welcome Thelma and Louise
Utah’s Hogle Zoo welcomes welcomes two black-footed cats
There are two new faces in the Small Animal Building–Thelma and Louise, a pair of ten-month-old black-footed cat sisters who recently arrived from Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas. Their arrival marks the return of black-footed cats to Utah’s Hogle Zoo and brings exciting potential for the future of this vulnerable species.
Meet Thelma and Louise
As the sisters settle into their new habitat, they can often be found napping, pouncing, exploring, and engaging in enrichment activities. Despite being small in stature, black-footed cats are fierce by nature, and these two are already showing off their distinct personalities.
Thelma is bold and playful, while Louise is a little more reserved—cautiously curious and content to observe before leaping into the action. Together, they roll, chase, and tumble through their space.
Continuing a legacy of care
Thelma and Louise’s arrival continues Hogle Zoo’s long-standing legacy of caring for black-footed cats. Following the 2024 transfer of guest-favorite Gaia to Cameron Park Zoo, we’re thrilled to welcome this dynamic duo to carry that legacy forward.
As part of the Black-Footed Cat Consortium, Hogle Zoo contributes to a collaborative effort focused on maintaining genetically diverse, biologically healthy populations through carefully managed breeding and research.
Fierce felines
Though small in size, black-footed cats are known for being exceptionally skilled hunters, earning them the nickname “the deadliest cat in the world.” They have an impressive 60% hunting success rate, surpassing larger felines, which typically succeed around 20% of the time. Black-footed cats are powerful jumpers, capable of leaping up to five feet high and more than six feet in distance. These traits make them formidable predators in their natural habitat.
About black-footed cats
Black-footed cats, the smallest species of wild cat in Africa, can be found in the arid eastern parts of Namibia, central and southern Botswana, and South Africa. Predominantly nocturnal, their status in the wild is often challenging due to their shyness and preference for nighttime activity.
Listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), black-footed cats face threats including habitat loss, agricultural development, and secondary poisoning from rodenticides. With fewer than 10,000 estimated in the wild, conservation efforts are critical.
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