Pallas's Cat: 15 Fun Facts for a 6‑Year‑Old

Meet the Pallas's cat — a small, very fluffy wild kitty from far-away mountains and steppes. Here are 15 fun facts you can enjoy!

1. Its name is Pallas's cat (sometimes called the manul). It was named after a scientist named Pallas.
2. It looks extra round and fluffy because its fur is very thick.
3. It is about the same size as a house cat but looks stockier and shorter.
4. It lives in cold, rocky places in Central Asia — places like Mongolia and parts of China.
5. Its tail is very bushy and has dark rings and a black tip.
6. Its ears are set low and wide on its head to help it hide behind rocks.
7. Its fur changes a little with the seasons; winter fur is even thicker and paler.
8. Its face looks flat and a little grumpy, but it helps the cat hide in the rocks.
9. It likes to eat small animals like pikas, mice, and tiny birds.
10. Unlike many night cats, it is often active in the daytime when its prey is out.
11. It can purr like a house cat and also makes hisses and high sounds when it is upset.
12. Baby Pallas's cats are called kittens. They are born in hidden dens and have stripes when they are little.
13. They live mostly alone and mark a home area they come back to.
14. They are great at hiding — sometimes they sit very still and look like a rock!
15. People are helping to protect them because their homes and food are getting smaller, so they need our help.

Want a fun idea? Try drawing a very fluffy Pallas's cat with a round face, low ears, and a striped, bushy tail!