Pallas's Cat
Otocolobus manul
A fluffy, flat-faced wild cat of Central Asia's cold, rocky grasslands that hides behind rocks to ambush rodents.
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About the Pallas's Cat
Pallas's cats are about the size of a small, stocky house cat: 20 to 24 inches long with an 8- to 10-inch tail, weighing 4 to 11 pounds. Their thick fur ranges from tan to gray. Their ears sit low on the head, so they can peek over rocks without being seen. They live in shrublands, grasslands, deserts and rocky areas from Iran to Mongolia and Russia. They hunt at dusk, dawn and night.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Otocolobus manul[1]
- Size
- 20 to 24 inches long, plus an 8- to 10-inch tail.[1]
- Weight
- 4 to 11 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- Usually 8 to 9 years.[1]
- Diet
- Carnivore. Mostly small rodents and pikas, plus lizards and birds.[1]
- Habitat
- Shrublands, grasslands, deserts and rocky areas.[1]
- Where it lives
- Central Asia, from Iran and Afghanistan to China, Mongolia and Russia.[1]
- Group life
- Solitary. Active at dusk, dawn and night.[1]
- Babies
- 3 to 6 kittens after a 74- to 75-day pregnancy.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2019).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- ambush
- To hide and wait, then attack by surprise.
- pika
- A small, round-eared mammal related to rabbits.
- pupil
- The dark opening in the middle of the eye that lets in light.
- carnivore
- An animal that eats mostly meat.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Claws & Paws PathwaySee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Pallas's cat.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/pallas-cat (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Otocolobus manul (Pallas's Cat).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15640/180145377 (accessed 2026-10-08)
Facts last checked 2026-10-08.
