Pallas Kitten 12" L, Endangered

7299, PALLAS KITTEN 12.40"L are anatomically scaled to create the best reproduction of the life size stuffed animal and the most realistic stuffed animal in the industry.

Pallas Cats:  These fluffy wildcats are the stars of YouTube – videos and internet memes.

The Pallas' cat (Otocolobus manul) is a small wildcat known for its unusual, and adorable, look: a flattened and rounded face, stocky build, and super fluffiness making it appear stout and plush.   Their natural habitat are the grasslands and steppes of Central Asia and Eurasia. The Pallas Cat recently received its own wildlife preserve in Asia’s Altai Mountains.

 Fun Facts About the Pallas Cat: 

1. Named after naturalist Peter Pallas who classified the wildcat in 1776. He named it Felis manul.  The word 'manul' has its roots in the Mongolian language.

2.   Its current scientific name, Otocolobus, comes from the Greek language translating to 'ugly-eared.' When Pallas first described He declared it an ancestor of the Persian Cat due to its round face, luxurious coat, and stocky body. (He was wrong.)

3. Whether “ugly” or not, its unusual ears come in handy.  The cat’s round ears sitting flat on the sides of its head are a very distinguishing feature. Having low-positioned ears helps the cat conceal itself.   They don’t poke up to reveal the animal's position while it's hiding or hunting.

4. The coat of the Pallas's cat is longer and thicker than any other belonging to a member of the Felid species, growing even heavier in winter.  The undercoat on its belly is twice as long as the fur covering the rest of the body. 

5.  The Color changes seasonally on the Pallas Cat, ranging from silvery gray during the winter to a darker, red-toned hue during warmer months. (Some cats are also red, particularly in Central Asia.) Its broad head is streaked and speckled with dark markings, and its bushy tail is banded with stripes and a dark tip. These markings tend to appear darker during the summer.

1. Its fur blends with the habitat, concealing it from predators. Pallas's cats live in areas ranging from Pakistan and northern India to central China, Mongolia, and southern Russia. 

2. Since its body isn’t adapted for snow, it sticks to cold, arid habitats like grassy or rocky areas, helping to conceal it from predators.  It prefers elevations of around 1500 to nearly 17,000 feet. 

3. Its compact body makes it a poor runner. When chased, it seeks refuge on boulders or in small crevasses. When sensing danger it crouches flat and motionless on the ground.  Its fur helps it blend in with its surroundings.

4.  Pallas's cats aren't fat—they're just “fluffy”.  Pallas's cats typically weigh less than 12 pounds. They’re usually only 2 feet or less in body length making them about the size of a house cat. Their dense fur makes them appear much larger.

5.  Pallas's cats do share one feature with larger wildcats.  Like lions and tigers, the pupils of their eyes are round, whereas a house cat's pupils are vertical and slit-shaped.  

6.  Pallas' cats are ambush hunters, stalking prey using short vegetation and rocky terrain for cover.  They sometimes wait at entrances to burrows pouncing as inhabitants exit. Pallas' cats prey mainly upon pikas as well as other small rodents, birds, and the occasional insect.

7. The Pallas's cat is notoriously elusive, spending much of its time hiding in caves, crevices, or abandoned burrows.

8.  Pallas’s cats give birth between March and May usually to three or four kittens, but litters can sometimes have as many as eight!. Kittens become independent by four to five months.   At 10 months, they’re mature enough to have their own kittens. 

9. Pallas' cats make a variety of sounds. They yelp or growl when excited, making a sound similar to a small dog. Pallas' cats can also purr.

 It's estimated that Pallas's cats can live up to six years in the wild, but because of predators and other dangers, their lifespan is likely to be half this length. In captivity, they’ve been known to survive for nearly 12 years.  Pallas Cats are an Endangered Species.