This secretive and rare cat is among the smallest of the world’s cats, and is the smallest wild cat in Africa. The coat of the black-footed cat (Felis nigripes) varies from cinnamon buff to tawny, and is patterned with black or brown oblong spots, offering effective camouflage. These spots merge into bars extending over the shoulders, legs and short tail. The broad skull has prominent rounded ears, and very large eyes that possess a mirror-like layer behind the retina, the tapetum lucidum, which reflects light at night with an intense blue sheen. The name of this cat comes from the black soles of the cat’s feet. There are two disputed subspecies; Felis nigripes nigripes and the darker and larger Felis nigripes thomasi.