What's a Meerkat?

What's a meerkat, you ask? Well, I'll tell you.

Meerkats are small furry creatures that live mostly in Southern Africa.

Although the name "meerkat" means "lake cat" in Afrikaans, a language spoken in South Africa, meerkats aren't really cats at all. Meerkats are more like mongooses, only much craftier and cuter.

In fact, meerkats are known for their smarts. Not only can we stand on our hind legs to get a good look around when we need to, but we know how to dig underground tunnels with lots of entrances and exits. We also know how to warn our friends and family when predators are near, and we're good at teaching younger meerkats how to dig and hunt.

We're social, playful animals and we work well as a team. The black fur around our eyes is like a pair of sunglasses - it helps us see better on bright, sunny days. Insects and spiders are our favorite foods.

• Learn more about meerkats
• Adopt a meerkat