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 Read Entire Article