Basic Information
Sand cats are the only wild cats that live their entire lives in true deserts!
Sand Cats - Facts for Kids
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Facts About Sand Cats For Kids
The scientific name for a sand cat is Felis margarita, named after French General Jean Auguste Margueritte who discovered them in 1858.
Sand cats belong to the same family as house cats called Felidae, which includes all cats big and small!
A group of sand cats is called a “clowder,” just like domestic cats!
Sand cats live in the deserts of North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia across about 20 different countries!
Sand cats can live up to 13 years in captivity, but scientists don’t actually know how long they live in the wild desert — it’s still a mystery!
Adult sand cats weigh between 3–8 pounds, about the same as a small house cat!
Sand cats measure 15–20 inches long, not counting their 9-12 inch tail!
Male sand cats are called “toms,” females are called “mollies,” and babies are called “kittens”!
Sand cats are carnivores, which means they only eat meat and never eat plants!
Sand cats are officially classified as “Least Concern” by scientists worldwide, but some places like Israel consider them Critically Endangered!
Sand cats are mammals, which means they have fur, give birth to live babies, and feed milk to their kittens!
Sand cats are nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day and are active at night!
Sand cats have been living in deserts for over 4 million years, making them desert survival experts!
Physical Characteristics
Sand cats have thick fur on the bottom of their paws that works like built-in snow boots for hot sand!
A sand cat’s ears are so large they can hear a mouse moving under the sand from 3 feet (0.91 meters) away!
Sand cats have pale yellow or sandy-colored fur that helps them blend perfectly with desert sand!
Sand cats have black stripes on their legs and sometimes on their body, like natural camouflage patterns!
A sand cat’s tail has 2-3 black rings and a black tip, making it look like it’s wearing striped socks!
Sand cats have extra-wide heads compared to other small cats to make room for their huge ears!
Sand cats have special reflective layers in their eyes that help them see perfectly in the dark!
A sand cat’s pupils can become as thin as lines during bright daylight to protect their sensitive eyes!
Sand cats have longer fur in winter (up to 2 inches (5 cm) long) and shorter fur in summer (less than 1 inch (2.54 cm))!
Sand cats weigh about the same as a gallon of milk, but they’re much more compact and muscular!
Sand cats have whiskers that are as long as their head is wide to help them move around in the dark!
Sand cats have a black stripe that runs from each eye to their mouth, like natural tear marks!
Behavior & Intelligence
Sand cats are mostly solitary, which means they prefer to live alone except during mating season!
Sand cats make all sorts of sounds—like meows, chirps, growls, and even barks!
They use different noises to talk to each other, especially during mating season. Some sand cats even bark like tiny dogs!
Sand cats can dig or enlarge burrows up to 5 feet (1.5 m) deep to escape the desert heat during the day!
Sand cats cover their poop with sand to hide their scent from predators and prey!
Sand cats mark their territory by scratching trees and rocks with their claws!
Sand cats are clever — they can remember the location of several hiding spots and burrows!
Sand cats walk in a low crouch when hunting to stay hidden from their prey!
Sand cats don’t leap super far, but they’re sneaky and fast when hunting!
Sand cats walk without leaving footprints — like sneaky desert ninjas!
Sand cats are neat desert hunters that groom a lot each day — just like pet cats!
Sand cats can stay perfectly still for a long time — just like statues — while waiting for prey!
They’re patient hunters that freeze in place, sometimes for over half an hour, until the perfect moment to pounce.
Sand cats make chirping sounds called “trills,” similar to birds when they’re happy or excited!
Sand cats sometimes return to places where they’ve found food before!
Habitat & Survival
Sand cats live in places where it rains less than 2 inches (5 cm) per year!
Sand cats can survive in temperatures ranging from 23 °F (−5 °C) at night to as high as 126 °F (52 °C) during the day!
Sand cats live in both sandy deserts and rocky areas with very little vegetation!
Sand cats never need to drink water because they get all the water they need from their prey!
Sand cats can travel up to 5 miles (8 km) in one night searching for food!
Sand cats prefer areas with scattered bushes and rocks that provide hiding spots!
Sand cats can climb above sea level — but only up to around 4,000 feet (1.22 km).
Sand cats stay cool by resting in shady burrows dug under bushes, rocks, or old animal holes!
Sand cats can sense tiny movements in the sand to find hidden prey underground!
