Mammals · Carnivora · Felidae

Pallas' Cat

Otocolobus manul

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It has the densest, longest fur of any cat, an adaptation to temperatures that can fall to -50°C in its steppe habitat. Its immune system, little exposed to pathogens, leaves it unusually fragile in captivity.

Weight

2.5 kg – 4.5 kg

Size

46 cm – 65 cm

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Crepuscular

Active above all at dawn and dusk.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

DesertMountainCarnivore Crepuscular Solitary Feline Desert Mountain Mammal

11countries 23parks39same family

Fun facts

It has the densest, longest fur of any cat.
Its steppe habitat can reach temperatures as low as -50°C.
Its sheltered immune system makes it notably difficult to keep in zoos.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Cold, arid steppe and high rocky ground of Central Asia, up to 4,000 m
Birth weight: 89-300 grams (figures vary by source); ~12 cm long
Size at birth: Blind, with a dark woolly coat lacking the adult's frosted look
Sexual maturity: 9-12 months (depending on the source)
Gestation / incubation: 66-75 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 8 young per litter (most commonly 3-4)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 15.9 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge; Wildcat Conservation; Wild Cats Magazine; Wild Cats World; A-Z Animals; Life on the Planet Ladakh; Encyclopedia; Wikipedia; Animalia.bio