© kjekol / stock.adobe.com
The wild Pallas's cat appears more compact and stocky than our domestic house cat.
With its long, dense fur, rounded ears, and intense stare, the Pallas Cat, or Manul, looks rather fluffy, yet somewhat dangerous. However, don’t be fooled by its appearance—this is no petting zoo resident. The Manul is a wild animal and considered untameable.
The Manul (Otocolobus manul, Synonym: Felis manul) represents an independent species within the feline family. These felines are also known as Pallas Cats, named after their discoverer, the Prussian naturalist Peter Simon Pallas who first described this wild cat breed in 1776. Today, three subspecies are distinguished.
Manuls grow to around the same size as indoor cats. They measure approximately 60 centimeters from head to rump, along with a 25 to 30 centimeters long tail. However, due to their long, dense fur, Manuls appear much sturdier and more compact than domestic cats. Their short legs accentuate their squat figure.
Pallas Cats weigh between two and a half to five kilograms. Their fur is reddish to yellowish-grey, and the stripes and spots within are barely visible due to the length of the hair. Generally, the coat is longer in winter and appears greyer due to the white tips. Manuls have one of the thickest and densest coats with plenty of undercoat within the feline family.
The ears of the Pallas Cat are short, rounded, and set low on the head, providing better camouflage in areas with insufficient cover. Its eyes are green-yellow, and the pupils are round, which is rather unusual for small cats.
The reason why the diminutive Manul also has round pupils is not known with certainty. Perhaps the pupil shape has something to do with its ancestors. Evolutionarily, the Pallas Cat is quite ancient. The species is considered to be a direct descendant of the extinct sabre-toothed tiger and split from the predecessor of today’s leopard cat about five million years ago. Knowledge: Pupil Shapes in Cats Smaller cat breeds, like our house cats, usually have vertical pupils. This unique shape helps the stealth hunters to perfectly gauge the distance to their prey and execute a precise strike.
Typically, only large cats such as lions and tigers have round pupils. These animals chase their prey over short distances, so they don’t need to discern the sharpness or blurriness of objects that are close by as accurately.
© Mikhail Semenov / stock.adobe.com
The native home of these wild cats is the steppes and mountains of Central Asia. They inhabit rocky deserts and semi-deserts between Afghanistan and Mongolia and are found at altitudes of up to 4,000 meters.
They frequently occupy abandoned marmot burrows, rock crevices, or earth caves: These shelters provide not only protection from the harsh weather conditions of their habitat but also from attacks by birds of prey.
Despite their wide range, the behaviour of the Pallas Cat remains largely unexplored. The animals live far too hidden in the inaccessible mountains of Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan.
What is known is as follows: Like many other small cats, the Pallas Cat is a crepuscular and nocturnal loner. Males and females only come together during the mating season.
After a gestation period of about 66 days, the female gives birth to five to six young in April or May, which she raises alone. The kittens are suckled for nine to eleven weeks and begin to hunt themselves at four months of age. At about ten months, the young Manuls seek out their own territories, which both sexes mark with scent.
Given their body structure, Pallas Cats are not enduring runners or fast sprinters. Their strength lies in patiently stalking prey.
Their menu primarily features small mammals such as pikas, marmots, and mice. Birds, especially ground-nesting species like sandgrouse, are also typical prey for the Pallas Cat.
Currently, the population of the Pallas Cat is not considered endangered. An estimated 58,000 individuals live in the mountains of Central Asia. However, their habitat is diminishing as cities and farmlands increasingly encroach upon their home.
Simultaneously, the number of their prey is decreasing, as pikas and marmots are more intensively hunted or poisoned by humans. Now and then, Manuls are also killed for their fur. Additional threats include domestic dogs and fox traps.
To protect the species, projects like the [Pallas’s cat International Conservation Alliance (PICA)] have been created. The goal is to gain new insights into the reclusive Pallas Cat and educate the local population about the threats they face.
Manuls are considered untameable. There have been cases where humans tried to raise abandoned young with cat food, but as soon as the wild animals were strong enough, they left their human adoptive parents and escaped to freedom. Thus, they are unsuitable as pets.
In general, animal lovers should refrain from removing wild animals from nature to keep as pets. Proper care and accommodation for these wild captures are usually not possible and often violate animal protection laws.
Those wishing to see a Pallas Cat should visit the zoo. In Europe, there are about 40 zoos where the species is kept. In human care, these animals can live up to 16 years.
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With its long, dense fur, rounded ears, and intense stare, the Pallas Cat, or Manul, looks rather fluffy, yet somewhat dangerous. However, don't be fooled by its appearance—this is no petting zoo resident. The Manul is a wild animal and considered untameable.
