The Sand Cat is a small wild cat found in the Desert areas of Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. These cats are very well adapted to tolerate the extreme climate of the desert and can survive even without water. Sand Cat is a unique and hidden cat which is found only in deserts. It is one of the smallest wild cats in the world and is very interesting because of its unusual habits and way of life.

Size & Body:

Size: 39–52 cm long. Weight: 1.5–3.4 kg Fur: ​​Sandy and yellow colored hair which helps in camouflage in the desert. Ears: Bad and stolen, which helps in tracking down the victim. Paws: Is covered with fur which protects from hot sand.

Habitats & Diet:

Found in Sahara, Arabian Desert and some parts of Pakistan. Hunt at night because the day is very hot.
During the day they rest in burrows or hiding places. This is a carnivore, that is, he eats only meat.
Small rodents, small insects, birds and insects are its prey. It is able to survive even without water, because it takes moisture from prey.

Hunting:

This is expert in both jump and dig. It hunts its prey absolutely silently, without making any sound.
Its hearing power becomes very sharp over long distances, which helps in detecting prey from this distance.

Threats & Protection:

Sand Cat is very rare and difficult to see. It has merged into the sand in such a beautiful way that people cannot see it easily. Its footprint is also barely visible in the sand, hence it remains a mystery even for scientific study. Human Hunting: In some areas, people hunt them because they are more powerful than their prey like cattle or birds. Habitat Loss: Due to the increasing urbanization of urban areas and climate change, their natural habitat is being destroyed. Wild Predators: Big wild cats, wolves and birds of prey (hawks like birds) are the enemies of Sand Cat. According to IUCN, it is in the “Least Concern” category, but its population is gradually decreasing.