This feline almost never drinks and leaves no footprints: meet the sand cat

The sand cat’s adorable features immediately trigger a rush of "cuteness aggression." However, it would be a big mistake to scoop up and cuddle this fluffy hunter. These are harsh desert survival champions, showing no pity for anyone or anything. Their one-of-a-kind appearance pairs with a fierce, unique nature. It's a bit like why some girls are drawn to bad boys, right?

You already know us: we love everything about cats, even if they live in the wild. We’ve written about the black-footed cat and the Pallas’s cat before; now it’s this sly tabby’s turn. Introducing the sand cat!

What do they have in common with tequila?

The species was discovered by French naturalist Victor Loche during his expedition across the Sahara in 1855. Its Latin name is Felis margarita, and alongside the name “sand cat,” it’s also called the “margarita cat.” Loche named it in honor of Captain Jean-Auguste Margueritte, the leader of the expedition.

The only cat that primarily lives in the desert

While some species, like the bobcat, regularly pass through desert landscapes as part of their lifestyle, the sand cat exclusively calls the desert home, be it rocky or sandy terrain.

Adapting to this environment hasn’t been easy, as daytime desert temperatures can soar up to 51ºC, dropping below freezing at night. To withstand these extremes, their paws are covered in thick fur, even between their toes, providing excellent insulation against both heat and cold. In Central Asia’s deserts, these cats even grow a winter coat that can be up to 5 cm thick.

Amazingly, even under such conditions, they need barely any water, going weeks without a single sip. They obtain all necessary moisture from their prey.

They are known as ruthless hunters

They are opportunistic hunters but particularly favor small rodents. However, they don’t shy away from birds, rabbits, or even insects. They even confront vipers without fear!

As efficient hunters, they often catch more than they can eat and bury the surplus prey in the sand to keep it safe from other hungry mouths.

Populations breed at different times

Wild sand cats don’t have a common breeding season. Instead, the season varies by location, likely due to factors like resource availability and climate. For example, sand cats in the Sahara typically breed from January to April, while in Turkmenistan, the season starts in April, and in Pakistan, it lasts from September to October.

Sand cats in captivity can have more than one litter per year, usually consisting of 2-3 kittens.

Masters of digging

They hunt at night and usually spend their days in dens. Incredibly, these small, seemingly fragile creatures can dig tunnels almost half a kilometer long. Their claws don’t retract fully, which likely helps them with digging. If they find a burrow already dug by another animal, they sometimes claim it as their own.

They’re both cautious and efficient. Before diving into the night, they stand guard at the den entrance for about 15 minutes.

They bark like dogs

Because of their lifestyle, they are typically quiet animals. But if they do make a sound, it resembles barking. They use this sound during the mating season to signal their presence. It sounds similar to a small dog, like a Chihuahua. They enhance these strong vocalizations by spraying a scent-marked mist to ensure the message reaches its destination.

Impossible to track

Larger predators and researchers alike struggle to find their tracks. The thick fur on their paws and between their toes cushions their steps, allowing them to walk across even the finest sand without leaving a trace. Rumor has it that if they see a person approaching with a light source, they’ll close their eyes to avoid reflecting the light. It’s as if they have an invisibility cloak that even rivals Harry Potter’s – or perhaps even better.

Habitat degradation threatens their survival

In 2002, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the sand cat as “near threatened,” though this was changed to “least concern” in 2016. However, this doesn’t mean the species is free from threats. The sand cat is mainly endangered by habitat degradation, as dry ecosystems like theirs are increasingly exposed to human activity. Other dangers include feral and domestic dogs, droughts, declining prey populations, and the spread of diseases.

Some desert nomads view these cats as a threat to poultry, but the Tubu people, who live northwest of Lake Chad, don’t hunt them. They hold these small cats in religious respect, as tradition says they kept company with the Prophet Muhammad and his daughter.