Sand Cat
Felis margarita
A small, pale desert cat with furry feet that can go weeks without drinking and even hunts venomous snakes.
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About the Sand Cat
Sand cats have bodies 18 to 22.5 inches long, an 11- to 14-inch tail, and weigh 3 to 7.5 pounds. They have broad heads, big eyes and red streaks on their cheeks. They live in the Sahara, the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Central Asia. They eat mostly small rodents, plus hares, birds, spiders, insects and reptiles, and they can go weeks without drinking water.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Felis margarita[1]
- Size
- Body 18 to 22.5 inches long, plus an 11- to 14-inch tail.[1]
- Weight
- 3 to 7.5 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- Up to 13 years in human care.[1]
- Diet
- Carnivore. Mostly small rodents, plus hares, birds, spiders, insects and reptiles, including snakes.[1]
- Habitat
- Very dry sandy and stony deserts with little plant cover.[1]
- Where it lives
- The Sahara in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Central Asia.[1]
- Group life
- Solitary. Active mostly at night, dawn and dusk.[1]
- Babies
- 1 to 8 kittens, usually 2 to 4, after a 59- to 67-day pregnancy.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2014).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- arid
- Very dry, with little rain.
- nocturnal
- Active mainly at night.
- crepuscular
- Most active at dawn and dusk.
- 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. · Small Mammal HouseSee 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. “Sand cat.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/sand-cat (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Felis margarita (Sand Cat).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/8541/50651884 (accessed 2026-10-08)
Facts last checked 2026-10-08.
