Attention, all kitten lovers!
Sand Cats are the Peter Pan cats who’ll forever look like kittens no matter how old they get
There are real cats in this world that will forever look like kittens no matter how much they age.
The only downside to this? Unless you’re willing to move to and live in the desert, then you’ll never get the chance to meet one.
Sand Cats look much like the average feline, except they’re a lot cuter, smaller and never lose their kitten-like features.
Native to desert areas in North Africa, these cats have soft, dense fur which is pale, sandy brown to light grey in color.
They have long, dense hairs covering their feet which stops their paws burning from the hot sands and a thick coat which insulates them from the intense heat of the desert.
And though they look quite innocent and cuddly, they’re a lot feistier than your average cat – and have a reputation for being snake hunters. They love to hunt vipers in particular, which they stun with blows to the head before biting into their necks to kill them.
They can, however, relate to the typical house cat when it comes to their sleeping patterns. As nocturnal animals, they spend their days hidden beneath shrubs to sleep and avoid the heat, before taking up their lookout position at night, when they’re ready to hunt.
Much like domestic cats, they growl, spit, hiss and even purr – and are fierce self-groomers.
But, while absolutely adorable, full of character and being able to carry their own very nicely, they are sadly a rare, dying breed.
They are indeed collected for the illegal pet trade in the Middle East and are often trapped and caught to be shot for ‘sport’ – making them a seriously threatened species in general.
In closing, here are 9 things you probably didn’t know about Sand Cats:
1. The sand cat’s scientific name: Felis margarita.
2. The sand cat is the only cat which lives primarily in the desert.
3. Sand cats may be among the smallest of the wild cats, but they’re not cut out to be pets.
4. Sand cats are largely solitary.
5. They meow just like domestic cats – and bark like dogs.
6. Sand cats can run up to about 25 mph.
7. Sand cats always live in burrows.
8. Sand cats are currently threatened by traps and habitat degradation.
9. Zoologists around the entire world are working to help wild populations recover.
How adorable they are indeed, aren’t they?
