Photos (c) Art Wolfe www.artwolfe.com
 

Sand Cat - Felis margarita

Weight: 5-6 lbs
Head/Body: 20 in
Tail: 12 in
Subspecies: 4

The sand cat is a small cat with short legs and a very broad head with low-set ears and full cheeks. The soles of its feet are protected from hot sands by having a thick mat of fur. Its coat is a plain yellowish-brown to grayish-brown, slightly darker towards its spine and lighter underneath.

The sand cat may be found in the semi-desert regions of northern African and the Middle East, where it hunts by night and twilight, from the ground, and seeks small rodents and reptiles.