Sand Cat

A Cat Called Margarita

There are four different subspecies (types) of sand cat, each found in a different part of northern Africa or southwest Asia. The subspecies we have at the Saint Louis Zoo, Felis margarita margarita, is native to the Sahara Desert. 

The name margarita comes from the French general, Margueritte, who led an expedition to Algeria in the 1850s. A naturalist traveling with the group "discovered" the sand cat and named the species after the general.

Made for a Desert Life

Like their name suggests, these cats are found in sandy deserts, and their body is well adapted to this habitat. The fur is colored pale yellow to gray with darker bands -- perfect for blending into the surroundings. And the coat is thick, so the cats are protected from cold nighttime temperatures. 

With all that fur, how do these cats keep cool during the heat of the day? Sometimes they lay on their backs, turning their pale bellies to the sun to cool off. They also cool off with help from their large ears. Blood circulates close to the ears' surface and dispels body heat.

Besides being big, the ears are also set low on the head. This helps the cats keep a "low profile" in their barren environment. The low placement of the ears has another benefit: it protects the ears from wind-blown sand. 

Sand cats are adapted for desert life in one more way: the soles of their feet are covered in thick fur. This protects the feet from the extreme hot and cold temperatures of the desert. The furry feet also help spread the cat's weight, so the animal can walk more easily over shifting sand.

The sand cat is a small animal: adult males weigh under eight pounds, and females under seven.

Eat, Drink, and Be Sandy

For most of the year, free-standing water isn't available in the desert. Fortunately, sand cats can survive for long periods without drinking. How? They're able to get enough moisture from their food. 

When it comes to food, sand cats aren't picky: they'll eat virtually anything they can catch. Some of their favorite prey are small rodents such as gerbils, jerboas, and hamsters. The cats are excellent diggers, so they can go after the little critters by digging into their underground burrows.

Sand cats also eat insects, birds, lizards, and snakes. In fact, among Saharan nomads, sand cats have the reputation for being great snake hunters. The cats can stun a snake with quick blows to the head, then move in for the kill with a bite to the neck.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Sand cats hunt mostly at night, so they rely on their excellent sense of hearing to track their quarry. It's believed they can hear the movements of prey animals far away, and even underground.

Their great hearing also comes in handy for communicating among themselves, since they "talk" by making a variety of sounds. Among their vocalizations are a barking call, used for finding mates, and a gurgle, used when two or more friendly cats are in close contact. 

Little Kittens

Scientists don't know much about the breeding behavior of sand cats. But they do know that pregnancy lasts about two months, and most births take place from January to April in Saharan sand cats. 

The average litter size is three kittens. The babies weigh less than three ounces at birth, but they grow rapidly over the next few weeks.

The young cats become independent fairly early, perhaps at six to eight months.

Can You Dig It?

Sand cats make their homes in shallow underground burrows. They may dig the burrows themselves, or they may improve burrows made and abandoned by other animals (like foxes). 

Sand cats can usually be found in their burrows during the day. At nightfall, they come out to hunt.     

Hunting the Hunters

The sand cat appears to be one of the least threatened species of wild cats. However, this desert dweller is still considered "near threatened," probably due to continued hunting (see Conservation Status).

What's being done to help sand cats? For one thing, they're protected by an international agreement that restricts trade in the animals and products made from them. In addition, hunting sand cats is banned in some -- but not all -- countries where the cats are found. 

Fun facts:

• Sand cats have a unique way of moving. With their belly to the ground, they move at a fast run interrupted by occasional leaps.
• Despite their strange method of moving, sand cats can sprint up to 25 miles per hour over short distances. 

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae