Pallas's Cat Facts
Otocolobus manul
Pallas's cats are small, stocky wild cats of Central Asia's cold steppes and rocky uplands. Dense fur, low-set ears, and a flattened body profile help them stay insulated and concealed among rocks.
- Habitat
- Mountain
- Diet
- Pikas, voles, gerbils, hamsters, small birds, and lizards
- Lifespan
- 8–9 years
Pallas's Cat Facts at a Glance
Pallas's cats are small, stocky wild cats of Central Asia's cold steppes and rocky uplands. Dense fur, low-set ears, and a flattened body profile help them stay insulated and concealed among rocks.
It belongs to the family Felidae in the order Carnivora. This profile is designed as a concise starting point; source links below support further reading.
Pallas's Cat Habitat
Pallas's Cats live in Mountain and Grassland and Scrub and Desert habitats across Central Asia. Their range depends on places that provide suitable food, shelter, and conditions for raising young.
What Do Pallas's Cats Eat?
Pallas's Cats are carnivore animals. Their diet includes Pikas, voles, gerbils, hamsters, small birds, and lizards, and the food available in their habitat shapes how they find, hunt, or forage for meals.
Pallas's Cat Lifespan, Size, and Weight
A pallas's cat typically lives for 8–9 years. Adults measure about 51–61 cm, plus a 20–25 cm tail and weigh around 1.8–5 kg; these ranges can vary with sex, age, habitat, and access to food.
Pallas's Cat Conservation Status
Pallas's Cat is listed here as Least Concern. Protecting habitat, maintaining healthy prey or food sources, and reducing human pressure are important parts of conserving wild populations.
Quick facts
- Region
- Central Asia
- Habitat
- Mountain, Grassland, Scrub, Desert
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Lifespan
- 8–9 years
- Size
- 51–61 cm, plus a 20–25 cm tail
- Weight
- 1.8–5 kg
Fun facts
- Unlike most small cats, Pallas's cats have round pupils.
- They often ambush prey at the entrances of rodent burrows.
- Low-set ears let them peer over rocks without exposing much of the head.
- Their thick winter coat helps them tolerate severe mountain cold.
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Sources and image credit
Animal facts are reviewed against the references below. The photograph remains available under its linked license.
