| Sand cat is a beautiful desert cat ranging | | | | distribution as shown by the map: |
| from Sahara in North Africa to the arid | | | | |
| regions of Iran and Pakistan in West and | | | | Felix Margarita Margarita (North Africa) |
| South Asia. A little cat, it weighs nearly | | | | |
| six pounds and is around one and a half to | | | | Felix Margarita Harrisoni (Arabia) |
| two feet long, excluding its one foot long | | | | |
| tail. | | | | Felix Margarita Thinobia (Iran) |
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| Living in some of the hottest places of the | | | | Felix Margarita Scheffeli (Pakistan) |
| planet, Felix Margarita, the Sand Cat is | | | | |
| adapted to its lifestyle. Its thick fur | | | | An elusive animal, the sand cat is difficult |
| protects it from cold desert nights whereas | | | | to track in the wild. It does not necessarily |
| the mesh of hair on the under-surface of paws | | | | visit water holes since it fulfills all water |
| shield it from the scorching sand in day | | | | requirements from the consumption of prey. It |
| time. Color is sandy yellow with irregular | | | | leaves no tracks in sand and remains hidden |
| black bars on torso, legs and tail. Face is | | | | for most of the day. Males and females only |
| broad and ears are long and pointed - | | | | come together in mating season. The cat |
| enabling it to hear over long distances in | | | | produces a somewhat loud barking sound that |
| the vast expanses of deserts. Reddish | | | | enables communication over long distances in |
| markings run along the side of eyes and back | | | | the desert. Usually two litter are born every |
| of ears. Chin and throat are white. Claws are | | | | year after a pregnancy lasting nearly two |
| usually blunt owing to dearth of places in | | | | months, with four to five kittens being the |
| the desert for their sharpening. | | | | average on each occasion. The young mature |
| | | | fast, being weaned off at a month and a half |
| A solitary feline, the Sand Cat is primarily | | | | and gaining independence at around four |
| a nocturnal hunter. It spends the day hiding | | | | months. |
| in burrows, beneath rocks and bush. At night | | | | |
| it uses its sensitive ears and great digging | | | | Owing to its reclusive lifestyle and certain |
| skills to take down a variety of prey from | | | | religious beliefs that make the sand cat |
| above and beneath the ground - including | | | | revered in many areas of its habitat, it is |
| gerbil, jerboas, insects, birds and even | | | | not extensively persecuted - allowing it to |
| venomous desert snakes. It frequently hides | | | | remain in healthy numbers in the wild - |
| the prey beneath sand to return and feed | | | | though it is still collected for pet trade |
| later. | | | | and hunted for sport! |
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| Sand Cat is divided into a number of | | | | The author is a blogger about cats and an |
| subspecies according to its geographical | | | | expert on sand cat. |