Pallas's Cat

wild cats · cold desert · camouflage · Asia

Built for cold. Pallas's cat has incredibly long and dense fur that keeps it warm in freezing deserts where temperatures swing wildly between hot days and icy nights. Its fluffy coat is so thick it makes this cat look twice as big as it really is.

Grumpy expression. Pallas's cat has a flat face with small rounded ears set low on the sides of its head, giving it a permanently annoyed look. This fierce expression actually helps scare away predators even though the cat is quite small.

Master of hiding. The cat's light grey fur blends perfectly with rocks and dirt in its desert home, making it nearly invisible when it stays still. This camouflage helps it sneak up on prey and avoid being spotted by hunters.

Pocket-sized hunter. Pallas's cat's body is only 46 to 65 centimeters long (about as long as a pencil and a half), with a bushy tail that adds another 21 to 31 centimeters. Despite being small, it's a fierce hunter adapted to life in harsh, dry lands.

Desert survivor. This cat lives in the cold, dry continental areas of Asia where there's very little rain and the climate is brutal. It thrives in places where most other animals would struggle to survive.