Pallas's Catマヌルネコ

Otocolobus manulLC— Least Concern

Pallas's cat is a small, stocky wild cat of the rocky highlands of Central Asia, instantly recognizable for its flattened face, low-set ears, and round pupils. Its extraordinarily dense coat — among the thickest of any cat — lets it withstand extreme cold while hunting pikas and small rodents. Once heavily trapped for fur, it is now protected under CITES and, while classified as Least Concern, faces ongoing threats from habitat fragmentation and rodenticide poisoning of its prey.

Pallas's Cat (reference photo)
Photo: Editfmah Adrian Herridge / Public domain / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Carnivora / Felidae Source
Size
Head-body length 50–65 cm, tail 21–31 cm
Weight
Males 3.3–5.3 kg, females 2.5–5 kg
Lifespan
Wild: average 5 years, maximum 10 years
Diet
Carnivore Carnivorous, feeding mainly on pikas, rodents, and birds
Activity
Activity pattern shifts from crepuscular in May–August to diurnal in September–November
Distribution
Found across the rocky montane grasslands of Central Asia, from the Caucasus and Iran through Tibet, Mongolia, and southern Siberia. Source

Did You Know?

  • Its round pupils are unusual among small cats, and combined with its low-set ears give it a distinctive, flattened facial appearance. Source
  • Its extremely dense coat packs up to 9,000 hairs per square centimeter, allowing it to stay warm even lying directly on frozen ground. Source
  • It became an internet sensation in 2008 via a viral "pet the cat" image and is now the official mascot of Moscow Zoo. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 6

Asahiyama ZooHokkaidoOpened in 1967

Source

NasudoubutsuoukokuTochigiAbout 50 minutes by car from Nasu-Shiobara Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen (a free shuttle bus is available; online reservation required by 17:00 the day before).

Source

Ueno ZooTokyoOpened in 1882

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Latest news

5

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Least Concern (LC)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Why does Pallas's cat look so flat-faced?
Its low-set ears and unusually round pupils, combined with an exceptionally dense coat, give it a distinctively flattened facial appearance among cats. Source
What does Pallas's cat eat?
It preys mainly on pikas and small rodents, along with occasional birds, hunting by stalking or extracting prey from shallow burrows. Source
Is Pallas's cat endangered?
It is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though it remains threatened locally by habitat fragmentation, poaching, and rodenticides that reduce its prey base. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 6 Source

Books & gear

Source: www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp www.parks.or.jp nasu-oukoku.com www.tokyo-zoo.net www.hama-midorinokyokai.or.jp www.iucnredlist.org