Utah Zoo releases adorable video updates on black-footed cat Gaia whose species is world’s deadliest – despite their very cute appearance

Utah’s Hogle Zoo has released new footage of one of its deadliest residents: a cute, seemingly cuddly cat. The species is found primarily in dry areas of Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.

But don’t be fooled.

Despite weighing just one kilo, the black-footed cat Gaia is one of the deadliest cats on Earth. But she’s also incredibly cute.

The carnivores can eat about 3,000 rodents per year in their natural habitat, with a success rate of 60 percent.

Compare that to the 20 percent held by big cats like lions and tigers, and it should come as no surprise that zookeepers issued a notice warning against petting this animal — or risk it angering them.

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But don’t be fooled. Despite weighing just a few pounds, the black-footed cat Gaia is one of the deadliest felines on the planet, despite being decidedly friendlier

“Dear Reader,” the announcement began, nine months after the animal arrived from Glen Rose, Texas, in October 2023.

“We’ve heard your pss-pss-pss, your concerns about Gaia being a friend, and your desire to scratch the chin of the tiniest, deadliest cat you’ve ever seen.

“We’re not here to crush your dreams — except maybe,” the staff joked.

‘Gaia may be the cutest, tiniest, and friendliest kitten you’ll ever see, but never forget her deadly reputation.

“What you CAN do is visit Gaia in the Small Animal Building, where you can feel all your great feelings for Gaia from within and from afar,” the post, written on Saturday, continues.

‘Sincerely and happy #Caturday, #utahshoglezoo.’

A few days earlier, the caretakers shared an equally adorable video of the spotted cat scratching her paws on a dangling piece of wood in her enclosure.

“Get her, girl,” staff members wrote in response, before reminding bystanders of her astonishing search success rate.

The cat appeared to be hunting in the new clip, giving her ancestors a 60 percent success rate

The carnivores can eat around 3,000 rodents per year in their natural habitat and are considered one of the deadliest cat species in the world – at least in terms of statistics

Images of other cats like Gaia in the wild show how dangerous they are when they hunt.

They can hunt their prey for hours, sometimes over distances of up to 20 miles.

But it is the skill of the black-footed cat that really shows itself when it comes into contact with a strange bird or desert rat. It flattens itself on the ground like a rug and then jumps at it with maximum force.

The result is a cat that can literally jump meters into the air to catch an escaping bird, which explains the chance of success.

Considering that this is set in the savannahs and deserts of one of the most inhospitable areas on earth, this is no small feat.

Despite all this, the black-footed cat is considered ‘vulnerable’, just one step away from being an endangered species.

A 2016 study found that there were only about 9,700 of the dangerous cats left in the wild in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Only a few are kept in enclosures like the one that opened in Utah in December.

Gaia can be seen posing on a tree trunk in her enclosure, showing off her black stripes and tiny toes

The four-pound cat arrived in Utah from Glen Rose, Texas, last October after being born last May

They can chase their prey for hours, sometimes over distances of up to 20 miles (32 kilometers).

“She’s a pretty feisty cat,” said Bob Cisneros, assistant director of animal care at Hogle Zoo, at the time.

He added that she is a “mighty warrior,” a woman who chooses the darkness to learn about her new home.

For their relatives in the wild, the same applies to the time they prefer to hunt. Another interesting fact about the smallest wild cat species found on the continent.

They are native only to Africa, so visit Gaia at your own risk.