Pallas’s cat is a small, stocky wild cat of the cold steppes and mountains of Central Asia. With its flat face, fluffy fur and grumpy expression, it has become an internet favourite, but it is rarely seen in the wild.
Interesting facts
- It is also called the manul.
- Unlike most small cats, it has round pupils rather than slit-shaped ones.
- Its ears sit low on the sides of its head, so it can peer over rocks without being seen.
- It is about the size of a domestic cat but looks much larger because of its thick fur.
- In 2019, DNA from its droppings showed that it lives on the slopes of Mount Everest.
- Pallas’s cats are slow runners and rely on camouflage rather than speed.
Behaviour
Pallas’s cats are solitary and mostly active at dawn and dusk. They hunt by stalking or waiting at burrows for pikas and rodents. They shelter in rock crevices and marmot burrows.
Breeding and young
Kittens are born in spring after about 66–75 days, in litters of two to six. Many kittens die in their first months, often from infections.
Threats and conservation
Hunting for fur, poisoning of pikas and rodents, overgrazing, mining and predation by dogs.
Where to see it
- Hustai National Park and the Mongolian steppe
- Hanle, Ladakh, India
- Ganzi region, Sichuan, China
- Specialist wildlife tours in Mongolia and Tibet
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
