Hogle Zoo ‘fan favorite’ cat dies of kidney disease, potential mate’s future now up in the air

SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — A black-footed cat named Ryder was euthanized on Monday at the Hogle Zoo after officials said his health “rapidly declined despite treatment.”

Hogle Zoo officials say Ryder, age 4, was being treated by veterinarians for advanced kidney disease. As his health continued to decline, the zoo said they made the “difficult decision to humanely euthanize him,” according to the news release.

The black-footed cat — one of the smallest and deadliest cat species due to their hunting success rate — is listed as a vulnerable species, meaning it faces several threats in the wild such as habitat loss, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) .

In 2021, Ryder came to Utah from the San Diego Zoo on a breeding recommendation from the Black-Footed Cat Consortium. In January, the Hogle Zoo received a female black-footed cat named Gaia after a similar recommendation.

Zoo officials had recently begun introducing Gaia and Ryder by swapping their habitats and having them share the same space.

Now that the expected breeding of Gaia and Ryder is no longer possible, zoo officials said they will work with AZA and conservation experts to explore future breeding options for Gaia. For now, Gaia is on her regular routine in her habitat in the Small Animal Building.

The zoo described Ryder as a “playful yet mellow” cat who loved puzzle feeders and “scratching posts sprinkled with cinnamon.”

“He was a fan favorite in the Small Animal Building, often snuggled up in a spot where he could people-watch,” the press release said.

The zoo’s website said he was a great ambassador for his species and a “beloved member of our zoo family.”

“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,” the website said.

Black-footed cats’ natural habitat is in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates there are less than 10,000 mature adult cats with the population continuing to decline.

According to the Hogle Zoo, the species — which averages eight inches in height and only two to five pounds in weight — is considered one of the deadliest cats in the world as it has a hunting success rate of 60%. Big cats average 20-25%.

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