A small, pale sandy cat of sandy and stony deserts far from water. Its low-set ears help it hear prey moving underground, and thick fur on the soles of its paws protects them from hot sand. It hunts at night.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Night
It rests in a den by day and hunts at night, covering about 5 km.
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inAfrica, Asia
HabitatDesert
ColoursSandy, Grey
SizeSmall
Length39–52 cm, plus a 23–31 cm tail
Weight1.5–3.4 kg
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives alone
Lives for13 years
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Scattered through the deserts of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East and Central Asia.
- What it eats
- Small rodents, birds and lizards; it also kills venomous snakes.
- Conservation
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
Did you know
Lives in deserts far from water, getting its moisture from its prey.
Its hearing is about 8 decibels more sensitive than a domestic cat’s.
It rests in underground dens during the day.
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