Sand Cat
- Date: 2007-10-21 - Word Count: 437
Share This!
Sand cat is a beautiful desert cat ranging from Sahara in North Africa to the arid regions of Iran and Pakistan in West and South Asia. A little cat, it weighs nearly six pounds and is around one and a half to two feet long, excluding its one foot long tail.
Living in some of the hottest places of the planet, Felix Margarita, the Sand Cat is adapted to its lifestyle. Its thick fur protects it from cold desert nights whereas the mesh of hair on the under-surface of paws shield it from the scorching sand in day time. Color is sandy yellow with irregular black bars on torso, legs and tail. Face is broad and ears are long and pointed - enabling it to hear over long distances in the vast expanses of deserts. Reddish markings run along the side of eyes and back of ears. Chin and throat are white. Claws are usually blunt owing to dearth of places in the desert for their sharpening.
A solitary feline, the Sand Cat is primarily a nocturnal hunter. It spends the day hiding in burrows, beneath rocks and bush. At night it uses its sensitive ears and great digging skills to take down a variety of prey from above and beneath the ground - including gerbil, jerboas, insects, birds and even venomous desert snakes. It frequently hides the prey beneath sand to return and feed later.
Sand Cat is divided into a number of subspecies according to its geographical distribution as shown by the map:
Felix Margarita Margarita (North Africa)
Felix Margarita Harrisoni (Arabia)
Felix Margarita Thinobia (Iran)
Felix Margarita Scheffeli (Pakistan)
An elusive animal, the sand cat is difficult to track in the wild. It does not necessarily visit water holes since it fulfills all water requirements from the consumption of prey. It leaves no tracks in sand and remains hidden for most of the day. Males and females only come together in mating season. The cat produces a somewhat loud barking sound that enables communication over long distances in the desert. Usually two litter are born every year after a pregnancy lasting nearly two months, with four to five kittens being the average on each occasion. The young mature fast, being weaned off at a month and a half and gaining independence at around four months.
Owing to its reclusive lifestyle and certain religious beliefs that make the sand cat revered in many areas of its habitat, it is not extensively persecuted - allowing it to remain in healthy numbers in the wild - though it is still collected for pet trade and hunted for sport!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on sand cat.
Living in some of the hottest places of the planet, Felix Margarita, the Sand Cat is adapted to its lifestyle. Its thick fur protects it from cold desert nights whereas the mesh of hair on the under-surface of paws shield it from the scorching sand in day time. Color is sandy yellow with irregular black bars on torso, legs and tail. Face is broad and ears are long and pointed - enabling it to hear over long distances in the vast expanses of deserts. Reddish markings run along the side of eyes and back of ears. Chin and throat are white. Claws are usually blunt owing to dearth of places in the desert for their sharpening.
A solitary feline, the Sand Cat is primarily a nocturnal hunter. It spends the day hiding in burrows, beneath rocks and bush. At night it uses its sensitive ears and great digging skills to take down a variety of prey from above and beneath the ground - including gerbil, jerboas, insects, birds and even venomous desert snakes. It frequently hides the prey beneath sand to return and feed later.
Sand Cat is divided into a number of subspecies according to its geographical distribution as shown by the map:
Felix Margarita Margarita (North Africa)
Felix Margarita Harrisoni (Arabia)
Felix Margarita Thinobia (Iran)
Felix Margarita Scheffeli (Pakistan)
An elusive animal, the sand cat is difficult to track in the wild. It does not necessarily visit water holes since it fulfills all water requirements from the consumption of prey. It leaves no tracks in sand and remains hidden for most of the day. Males and females only come together in mating season. The cat produces a somewhat loud barking sound that enables communication over long distances in the desert. Usually two litter are born every year after a pregnancy lasting nearly two months, with four to five kittens being the average on each occasion. The young mature fast, being weaned off at a month and a half and gaining independence at around four months.
Owing to its reclusive lifestyle and certain religious beliefs that make the sand cat revered in many areas of its habitat, it is not extensively persecuted - allowing it to remain in healthy numbers in the wild - though it is still collected for pet trade and hunted for sport!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on sand cat.
Related Tags: cat, animal, feline, wild, cute, sand cat
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- The Time I Had a Pet Blue Wasp
A lot of people have pets such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, turtles and some even have snakes and - Why Should You Buy Barking Collars For Dogs?
You love your dog but he always barks and misbehaves. It is very upsetting for owners to have dogs t - What to Consider Before Adopting a Dog
There may be plenty of occasions in your life when a puppy crosses your path and desperately needs a - What Do Pet Insurance Policies Cover?
The most basic pet insurance policies simply cover vet bills. More advanced policies can cover every - Dog Walkers Are They For You
If you own a dog then you will know how important it is to ensure that it is walked often to keep th - Creating the Right First Aid Kit For Your Dog
Most of us have some type of first aid kit in our homes. They are necessary for those small bumps an - Deciding to Crate Your Dog For Training
There are several different ways that you may decide to use to train your new dog and they are all v - What to Know About Diets For Dogs
Weight seems to be a struggle for just about anyone, and that is true in the world of dogs. In fact, - Dog Training Basics - Important Tips to Remember
Training your dog is important. It's important for his safety, your safety, the safety of your prope - Don't Go Raising Sheep For Wool Without Reading This!
There are many possible reasons why people choose to raise sheep. Some do it as a means of livelihoo
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever Puppy And Dog Information
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not an apartment dog. She needs plenty of room to exercise and havin - How To Choose The Right Dog Trainer
Choosing a trainer is a very important decision and one that requires a fair amount of research and - Can Greenies Dog Treats Recover From Death?
A Makeover For Greenies(r) Treats Months after a series of lawsuits and media attention alleged the - Dog Treats - How to Choose Healthy Treats for Your Dog
Your dog is indeed your best friend and how you feed him or her is very important. Even small items - How to Choose A Good Dog Trainer
If you find that you are not being successful in training your own dog, or maybe you don't have the - Dog Breeds and Asthma Sufferers: Are Hypoallergenic Breeds Always Best?
The first important consideration is to understand exactly what hypoallergenic dog breeds are. In sh - Audubon Bird Feeders
Bird watching is an enjoyable hobby for many of us. We love the antics of the different birds as - Must Have Accessories For Your Fish Tank
When many individuals think of fish tank accessories, decorations are often the first thing that com - The Beautifull Hummingbirds
The hummingbirds diet requires nectar as a source of energy and for their protein source small insec - Clumber Spaniel Puppy And Dog Information
The Clumber Spaniel is an intelligent, calm dog great for apartments as they do not need a great dea