September 1, 2024, 6:04 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Few animal families are as popular with people as that of cats. Whether as domestic pets or wild animals, these elegant hunters captivate many with their lifestyle and appearance. This is also true for the Pallas’s cat, about which little was known for a long time. Its popularity continues to grow since the first photos and videos of it emerged.

Although researchers knew very little about the small wildcat for a long time, the Pallas’s cat has gained popularity, not least because of its fluffy fur and its many different facial expressions. PETBOOK takes a closer look at this iconic small cat.

Pallas’s Cats Are Related to Saber-Toothed Tigers

Many of the features that Pallas’s cats have developed to adapt to their habitat make them unique in the world of wildcats. Unlike others, they still look as primitive as they did millions of years ago. They are often referred to as the closest surviving relatives of the saber-toothed tiger and are also known as Manul.

Pallas’s Cats Are Clumsy and Slow

A distinctive feature of the Pallas’s cat is its round pupils. It is the only small cat with this trait, which is otherwise found only in lions and tigers. Many other small wildcats live in deserts and must constantly regulate light exposure, especially when hunting. However, the Pallas’s cat lives in vast areas of the Asian steppes, as well as in forested and mountainous regions. Therefore, its eyes must also be more adaptable.

Additionally, the Pallas’s cat is not an endurance runner that keeps its prey in full focus but rather strikes from hiding with short sprints. This is due to its rather stocky body shape and thick fur. With fur up to seven centimeters long and a thick undercoat, the animals can withstand temperatures as low as –50 degrees without issue, but it also makes them clumsy and slow.²

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Pallas’s Cat Adapts to the Harshest Habitats

Even though the Pallas’s cat is a slower hunter, it can be very dangerous to its prey at close range. It takes down small mammals and insects with its teeth and claws, which are more than three times as long as those of a house cat. While its claws are deadly, they are rounded enough to allow it to climb in high mountains without difficulty.

Its round, small ears are also perfectly adapted to its habitat. Unlike cats with tall, pointed ears, the Manul’s ears are inconspicuous, even when erect. This way, they don’t stick out from its hiding place when stalking prey.³

Pallas’s cats are also classic loners. They mostly live hidden in the steppes or mountains of Central Asia, far from other members of their species and humans. The small wildcats primarily live in Mongolia, where they were long hunted for their thick fur.

They are also found in many Asian steppes, as well as in Nepal and China. Nowadays, the animals retreat to increasingly higher altitudes, even living at 5,200 meters above sea level on Mount Everest (PETBOOK reported).

Pallas’s Cats as Good Luck Charms

Despite their shy nature, which has kept Pallas’s cats largely unnoticed for a long time, scientists and researchers have been trying for some time to learn more about these elusive small cats with the help of the local population. In their range, the Pallas’s cat is considered a good luck charm.

The fact that they are so rarely seen is likely also because Pallas’s cats are mostly very quiet. They cannot meow but only hiss and growl when hunting.

Mating Only Once a Year

Pallas’s cats claim large territories of several square kilometers for themselves. They only tolerate other members of their species during the mating season, which occurs only once a year. Newborn Manuls grow quickly and seek their own territory after just a few months. The young are usually inconspicuous and silent.

Another endearing behavior is warming their paws on their bushy tails. When the small wildcat is not patrolling its territory or sleeping, it keeps its paws warm this way to prevent them from getting cold when in direct contact with snow and ice.

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Can You Keep a Pallas’s Cat as a Pet?

Not least due to numerous appearances on social media, some people wonder if the grumpy wildcat, which is about the size of a house cat at 50 to 60 centimeters long, can be kept as a pet. However, this is not possible, as the animals are extremely shy and live in climatic conditions that cannot be replicated in a typical household.

Additionally, the solitary Manuls have proven to be unresponsive to domestication. Attempts to lure them with cat food and domesticate them have failed, as they do not appreciate human company at all. Pallas’s cats in captivity often become depressed or stop reproducing.

Moreover, due to their secretive lifestyle, it is unclear how many Pallas’s cats remain in total. Today, researchers believe that the animals’ habitats are shrinking due to dense human settlement, and they estimate there are about 50,000 Manuls left in the wild.⁴ So, if you encounter these grumpy wildcats, it’s best to leave them alone.