Sand Cat
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Subfamily
Genus
SPECIES
Felis margarita
Population size
27,264
Life Span
13 years
Top speed
40
25
km/hmph
km/h mph 
Weight
1.5-3.4
3.3-7.5
kglbs
kg lbs 
Height
24-36
9.4-14.2
cminch
cm inch 
Length
39-52
15.4-20.5
cminch
cm inch 

The Sand cat (Felis margarita) is a small wild cat that inhabits sandy and stony deserts far from water sources. The first Sand cat known to science was discovered in the Algerian Sahara and described in 1858. In the early 1970s, these adorable animals were caught in southwestern Pakistan and exported to zoos worldwide. Among the Tuareg people of the Ténéré desert, Sand cats have a reputation of efficiently killing venomous snakes.

No

Nocturnal

Cr

Crepuscular

Ca

Carnivore

Te

Terrestrial

Al

Altricial

Pr

Predator

Bu

Burrowing

Vi

Viviparous

Po

Polygyny

So

Solitary

No

Not a migrant

S

starts with

Cu

Cute Animals
(collection)

Appearance

The Sand cat looks a bit like a domestic cat, though with the addition of furry paws, giant ears, and a very curious personality. These cats are small and stocky, with short legs and a tail that is relatively long. Their fur is generally a pale sandy color, usually with a white belly. A faint reddish line runs from the outer corner of each eye across the cheeks. There are dark brown to blackish bars on the limbs, and the tail has a black tip with two or three dark rings alternating with buff bands. Markings vary between individuals: some have neither spots nor stripes, some are faintly spotted, and some have both spots and stripes. Their feet are very thickly furred, which is thought to help them cope with the desert’s extreme temperatures-like wearing shoes to walk on hot asphalt.

Video

Distribution

Geography

The Sand cat lives in northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and central and southwest Asia. It occurs in arid sandy and stony deserts, particularly among sparse vegetation.

Sand Cat habitat map

Biome

Sand Cat habitat map
Sand Cat
Attribution-ShareAlike License

Habits and Lifestyle

Sand cats are solitary except during the mating season. They communicate by means of claws and scent marks on objects within their range. Sand cats are not good jumpers or climbers, but are excellent diggers, and dig shallow burrows in which to avoid desert temperatures during the day. They sometimes lie outside their burrows on their backs to release internal heat. They share their burrows with other individuals, but not at the same time. Sand cats usually rest in underground dens during the day and hunt at night. When it gets dark they come out to hunt. In one night they will sometimes travel about 10 km (over 6 miles). These cats communicate with vocalizations that sound like those of domestic cats but they also make high-pitched loud barking sounds, particularly when looking for a mate.

Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Sand cats are carnivores and eat rodents, birds, hares, reptiles, and even insects. They use the moisture from their prey to enable them to survive with no additional water, or very little.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
January-April (Sahara), April (Turkmenistan), September-October (Pakistan)
PREGNANCY DURATION
59-63 days
BABY CARRYING
2-4 kittens
INDEPENDENT AGE
6-8 months
FEMALE NAME
queen
MALE NAME
tomcat
BABY NAME
kitten

Sand cats are very shy and rare, so not much is known about their mating system. Living solitary lives except during the breeding season may mean that these cats are polygynous. It seems that their hearing is important for communication during the breeding season, the timing of which depends on the location: January-April (Sahara), September- October (Pakistan), and April (Turkmenistan). After a gestation of 59-63 days, females produce 2-4 kittens, although they may bear two litters in the same year in some areas. Kittens grow fast and are nearly fully grown at five months old. They become completely independent at six to eight months of age when they already are eating some solid food. They are reproductively mature at 9-14 months old.

Population

Population threats

The primary threats to this species include the destruction of habitat by humans and the decline of their prey populations. They are also hunted for sport, and are easy targets, as they are not aggressive, and they like to sun themselves during the day on rocks. Another threat is the introduction of domestic and feral cats and dogs, which may prey upon, compete with, or transmit diseases to the Sand cat.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, there are relatively few records of the Sand cat, and the species is often reported as rare. The total population size of the Sand cat is conservatively estimated at 27,264 mature individuals. It is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the list of threatened species.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • Sand cats have been observed at night to close their eyes when humans approach so that it is difficult to spot them because they blend into the environment.
  • Sand cats’ footprints don’t remain in the sand, due to their furry paws.
  • The Sand cat hides leftover food in the sand.
  • Sand cats live in temperatures that sometimes rise to more than 40°C (104°F).
  • This animal’s sand-colored coat is hard to see against dry bushes and sand and acts as protection for it.
  • The cat’s large ears help to provide it with excellent hearing. Their “pinnae” or “ear flaps” allow the animal to hear so well it can detect the vibrations of prey on the ground.
  • When walking, the Sand cat keeps close to the ground. Probably it feels safer moving low down because there are not many objects to hide behind. Despite moving in this strange way, the sand cat can run very quickly when it needs to.

Coloring Pages

References

1. Sand Cat Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_cat
2. Sand Cat on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/8541/0

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