The current Mammal Diversity Database account places this dik-dik in eastern Uganda, southwestern Kenya, and northwestern Tanzania. A study at Mpala in central Kenya was conducted in semi-arid Acacia bushland.
A 2017 field account using the older name Madoqua (kirkii) cavendishi describes individuals with a dark russet muzzle and more extensive dark russet on the flanks and legs.
A 2014 study included M. cavendishi among the browsers studied at Mpala Research Centre in central Kenya. The study area was semi-arid Acacia bushland with a discontinuous understory.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.