Chinese Desert Cat (Felis beiti)

Common Names: Chinese Mountain Cat, Chinese Desert Cat

Chinese desert cats are yet another small felid species about which virtually nothing is known. There is speculation that they may only be a distinct subspecies of the wide ranging wildcat Felis silvestris. They are also referred to as Chinese mountain cats, or Chinese grey cats.

Somewhat larger than the wildcat, these cats have a stocky build and relatively short legs. The coat is fairly long and dense, with abundant underfur. The basic colour is pale grey fawn in winter, somewhat darker brown in summer, and ticked with dark guard hairs. It is somewhat darker on the back, and the underparts are whitish or light whitish grey. Indistinct horizontal stripes appear on the sides and legs. There is a pale reddish brown area below each ear. The ears are fairly pointed, and are tipped with short tufts of hair, about 2 - 2.5 cm long. The backs of the ears are the same dark colour as the back. Paw pads are hair covered, a possible adaptation to walking on unstable, shifting terrain. The tail is fairly long and thick, ending bluntly in a black tip, with several dark rings along its length.

The Chinese desert cat inhabits open steppe country, alpine meadows and forest, bamboo or bush covered mountainsides to an elevation of 4,100 metres. They have a relatively restricted range, being found only in the northeastern Tibetan plateau in central Sichuan, China. Reports of them occurring in flatter, more desert like terrain probably refer to mis-identified desert wildcats or domestic cats.

These cats cope with one of the worlds’ harshest climates, ranging from sizzling hot summers to below zero winters, with raw, dry winds occurring all year round.

What little in known of this species in the wild is mainly due to the efforts of collectors from the Xining Zoo, who obtained 34 specimens between 1973 - 1985. These cats are primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, hunting during the early morning and evening hours. They rest and tend their young in burrows, typically situated on south-facing slopes. Males and females live separately, and the burrows inhabited by the females tend to be deeper and more secure, with only one entrance. They have been observed hunting mole rats by listening for their movements through their subterranean tunnels and digging them out. Scat analysis indicates that rodents are the major prey, but birds, including pheasants, are also caught.

Their reproductive season is January to March, with litters of two to four kittens born in May. The young reach independence at seven to eight months. There are no Chinese desert cats currently known to be in captivity.

There is no information on status or abundance, or records of occurrence in protected areas. Pelts are known to turn up frequently in local markets. Large scale poisoning campaigns have been conducted since 1958 in an attempt to control pest populations of pikas, which are viewed as competitors of domestic livestock for grazing. In 1978, it was discovered that the chemicals being used also killed carnivores that preyed on the pikas, but other chemical programs continue throughout much of the Chinese desert cat’s range.

Research has shown, however, that pikas reach their greatest densities when rangeland has already been significantly degraded by domestic stock, suggesting that the authorities could most effectively control pika populations by focusing their efforts on measures to prevent overgrazing. Healthy predator populations should serve to limit pika numbers, as they are an important food source for a variety of carnivores and birds of prey.

No other threats are known. It seems unlikely that hunting efforts specifically target the desert cat. Fully protected in China, CITES has placed the Chinese desert cat on Appendix II.