Some sources state that the Pallas Cat is the oldest living species of cat in the world!

The Pallas Cat can be found living in burrows, rock fissures, and caves and spends most of its day sleeping. Though many people believe that the Pallas Cat is nocturnal, they are actually crepuscular, meaning they become active active at twilight or before sunrise. Hunting at either end of the day gives them access to more creatures of the field. The Pallas Cat usually does not leave its sleeping quarters until twilight. After waking the Pallas Cat will often hunt. It is a solitary hunter and usually feeds on a variety of birds and small mammals including rodents. There are three commonly described subspecies of Pallas Cat. Each subspecies varies in location and may also have slight physical differences.

The Pallas Cat is small, similar in size to a large domestic house cat. Some might even confuse them with a house cat on first glance. The average mature Pallas Cat weighs between seven and twelve pounds and measures approximately 22 inches in length. They have striking long gray fur that is said to be moderately course to the touch. Because these cats live in a variety of extreme temperatures their thick coat offers great protection. The base color of this cat's fur is grey but its guard hairs are white, giving it a beautiful sparkling appearance that is described by some as being almost irridescent. Their backs may also have faint dark markings. Their faces, said to resemble those of the Lynx, are marked by stripes on the cheeks and a lovely ruff around their heads. They have white throats, chins, and lips. Their whiskers are long. They have broad faces and are relatively stocky with short legs. Their tails are marked with dark rings similar to those seen on their backs, though they are more distinct on the tail. Their 10 inch tail is also tipped with black. Their large round eyes are set high. Their eyes are also quite unusual. Most wildcats have eyes that contract as slits. The Pallas Cat's eyes contract as circles! They also have small rounded fur covered ears. Their high eyes, flat heads and rounded, side-set ears all support the notion that these cats are crepuscular.

These striking cats are common through much of Southern Asia and Western China. They seem to prefer a varied habitat from rocky desert to barren mountain regions. They are often seen as high as 15,000 feet. Pallas cats are named after the gentleman who discovered them, Peter Pallas. Sadly, the Pallas Cat is listed as threatened in much of their natural range.

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