Black-footed Cat Ryder
Hogle Zoo mourns the loss of black-footed cat.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo is mourning the loss of beloved male black-footed cat, Ryder (4), who passed away on July 22, 2024. After Ryder was placed under close veterinary care for advanced kidney disease, Hogle Zoo made the responsible but difficult decision to humanely euthanize him as his health rapidly declined despite treatment.
Ryder’s dedicated care team, including veterinarians and keepers, created an individualized treatment plan and worked together to assess his quality of life. We discovered Ryder’s kidney disease during a health exam following notable changes in his behavior and weight. Our animal health team also performed a necropsy that confirmed his advanced kidney disease.
Ryder came to Hogle Zoo in 2021 from San Diego Zoo Safari Park as a part of a breeding recommendation from the Black-footed Cat Consortium, a species survival organization dedicated to the husbandry and conservation of black-footed cats.
Best known for his playful yet mellow personality, Ryder loved the challenge of puzzle feeders and had a special fondness for scratching posts sprinkled with cinnamon
A female black-footed cat, Gaia, recently joined Hogle Zoo on a breeding recommendation for Ryder. Our teams had begun the introduction process, including swapping habitats and sharing habitat space. We will work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Black-footed Cat Consortium for future breeding recommendations for Gaia. Gaia continues her daily routine, and guests can visit her in the Small Animal Building.
Ryder also contributed to Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) CryoBioBank, which helps ensure genetic diversity among black-footed cats. Every birth creates opportunities for future generations of this vulnerable species and significantly contributes to their conservation.
Ryder was a beloved member of our zoo family and an outstanding ambassador for black-footed cats. To Ryder’s community—including his dedicated animal care and health teams, staff, volunteers, and guests—thank you for being part of Ryder’s life, whether through his diligent care or by advocating for his species. He will be greatly missed.
About black-footed cats
Found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, black-footed cats are among the world’s smallest and considered among the deadliest cats. They live in desert grassland areas and spend the day resting under grass cover or in abandoned burrows left by other animals before coming out to hunt and patrol their territory at night.
Black-footed cat conservation
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists black-footed cats as vulnerable due to threats like habitat degradation and loss. Hogle Zoo works with the Black-footed Cat Consortium to support healthy populations under human care, successfully welcoming many litters of kittens.
Animal wellbeing
Providing excellent animal wellbeing through animal health is an essential priority for Hogle Zoo. Ryder is a great example of dedication to animal health, not only for his kidney disease care but also for an innovative surgery in 2022. One of Ryder’s care team members noticed he wasn’t putting weight on his right front paw. Following an exam, we initially splinted his foot, and after consulting with a board-certified veterinary surgeon at MedVet, an orthopedic surgery requiring patience and precision was performed.
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Utah's Hogle Zoo
