Thread by @Cougar_Network

*whispers* you know what time it is? A LATE NIGHT EDITION OF #WildcatWednesday!!!! Sorry for the wait everyone I’m sure you were all just roiling over the anticipation but fear not it is time for our second cat this series.. behold pallas’s cat! #ScienceTwitter /1

I know what you’re thinking, Yowlie, that can’t be a real cat right?! But alas my cat loving patrons IT IS!!! This extraordinarily odd feline holds the genus Octocolobus which in Greek language means “ugly-eared”! There has to be a reason for such a name... #ScienceTwitter /2

The Manul cat has the densest fur out of any cat in the WORLD! They inhabit the high-altitude ranges of Asia and the Mongolian Steppe utilizing grasslands and semi-arid areas. They withstand temperatures up to -58 F (-50 C) which is colder than your freezer! #ScienceTwitter /3

With such a perplexing anatomy how does one hunt effectively? Well, what’s interesting is that they are actually terrible runners! Their legs are too short and their compact body makes it difficult make leaps and bounds gracefully.. so they AMBUSH INSTEAD! /4 #ScienceTwitter

This original Mr. Grumpy cat has evolved to use their oblong body shape to hide in plain sight with their incredible camouflage making them disappear! Right between rocks and tucked within grasses waiting for their perfect chance to strike! HIYA!!! /5 #ScienceTwitter

Although these stubby little cat pugs aren’t fast they manage to catch plenty of food in the wild. They prey upon birds, rodents, insects, and carrion. They also share a distinct relation to predating pikas which are lagomorph relatives to rabbits and hares! /6 #ScienceTwitter

When it comes to breeding most cats usually average around 2-4 kittens but Pallas’s cats can have up to 6 with a record of 8 being recorded! This trait comes from the evolutionary tradeoff of living in a highly variable prey abundance during seasonal changes. /7 #ScienceTwitter

Pallas’s cats unfortunately are near threatened due to habitat fragmentation, hunting, prey limitation like pika-control, grassland overgrazing from livestock, and habitat loss which exposes them to a multitude of predators like foxes and eagles! Yet, they still survive! /8

Wow, thanks so much for joining in my second introduction of #WildcatWednesday if you enjoy this make sure to follow so you stay updated on all events going on in the world of cougars! Stay curious!
Sources for images: boredpanda.com/pallas-cat-man…
Info source: The Wild Cat Book 2014

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