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 whose species is found mostly in arid parts of Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa.

But don't be fooled.

Despite being one and only a few pounds, the black-footed cat Gaia is one of the deadliest felines on the planet, despite being decidedly extremely cute.

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

Compare that to the 20 percent sported by big cats like lions and tigers, and it should come as no surprise why zookeepers warned in a caption to refrain from giving this critter any pets - or risk its wrath.

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'Dear reader,' the announcement began, nine months after the animal's arrival from Glen Rose, Texas in October 2023.  

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

'We’re not here to squash your dreams - except maybe we are,' staffers joked.

'While Gaia may be the cutest, tiniest, most friend-shaped feline you’ve ever seen, never forget her deadly reputation.

'What you CAN do is visit Gaia in the Small Animal Building, where you can feel all of your big feelings for Gaia internally and from afar,' the post, penned Saturday, continued.

'Yours truly and happy #Caturday, #utahshoglezoo.'

A few days earlier, zookeepers shared an equally cute clip of the spotted cat pawing at a dangling piece of wood installed in her enclosure.

'Get it, girl,' staffers wrote in response, before again reminding onlookers of her startling hunt success rate.

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

They can stalk their prey for hours on end, at times over distances pegged at around 20 miles.

But it's the black-footed cat's prowess when it comes in contact with the odd bird or gerbil when it really struts its stuff - flattening itself to the ground like a rug before pouncing with maximum power.

The result is a cat that can literally spring itself into the air several feet to catch an escaping bird - hence its success rate.

Considering this is out in the savannahs and deserts of some of the harshest areas of the world, this is nothing to sneeze at.

Despite all this, the black-footed cat is considered 'vulnerable' - just one step before endangered.

A 2016 assessment revealed that only around 9,700 of the killer cats are living in the wild in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, with the odd one kept in exhibits like the one opened in December in Utah.

'She’s a pretty feisty cat,' said Bob Cisneros at the time, the Associate Director of Animal Care at Hogle Zoo.

He added how she's a 'mighty warrior' - one that prefers the cover of night when getting acquainted with her new home.

For her counterparts in the wild, the same goes for their preferred time to hunt - another interesting tidbit about the smallest species of wild cat found on the continent. 

They are only native to Africa, so consider paying Gaia a visit - at your own risk.