Sand Cat Felis margarita

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Sand cats are true desert dwellers, with colouring that blends in with their environment. The coat is soft and dense, mostly pale sandy brown to light grey, slightly darker on the back and whitish on the belly. A reddish streak runs across each cheek from the outer corner of the eyes; the lower half of the face and chest is whitish to pale yellow. The tawny reddish ears are black tipped, as is the tail, which also has a few narrow black rings near the tip. There are pale cross stripes running down the flanks, almost invisible until the legs are stretched out. There are indistinct bars on the limbs. The broad head has large eyes placed greatly forward, and low set, large, tapered ears which provide keen hearing for habitat where prey is scarce. Another desert adaptation is the long, dense, hairs covering the soles of the feet, providing insulation from the hot sands and facilitating quiet progress over loose surfaces. They have evolved a thick coat which insulates them from the alternating intense heat and cold of a desert environment.

This close relative of the European wildcat Felis silvestris shows a definite preference for extremely arid terrain, both sandy and stoney spaces with bushes. In Arabia, they are occasionally seen in rocky areas. They are found right across the Sahara, from Morocco and Mauritania in the west, as far as Egypt and the Sudan in the east. Many areas that appear suitable have no records of their presence. This may be true or just a result of limited observations.

Sand cats are poor climbers and jumpers, but are prolific diggers. Digging is necessary to construct and improve burrows, and dig rodents out of the sand. Their claws are not very sharp, as there is little opportunity to sharpen them in the desert. When crossing open spaces they keep low, skulking on bent legs. The low set ears, widely spaced on the broad head, enable stalking among rocks with a minimum of exposure. Because the hot dry air of the desert absorbs sound, large ears are required to pick up the faint squeaks of their prey. Their prey includes gerbils, jerboas, sand voles, hares, birds, reptiles, large spiders and insects which provide most of their moisture requirements, as they inhabit generally waterless regions. Natural enemies include poisonous snakes, jackals and large owls.

Among Saharan nomads, sand cats have a reputation for being snake hunters, particularly of horned and sand vipers, which they stun with rapid blows to the head before dispatching with a neck bite. They also cover large kills with sand and return later to feed.

Primarily nocturnal, they spend the hot daylight hours in a shallow burrow dug into a dune or beneath a shrub. They have occasionally been observed above ground in daylight near their burrows, lying on their backs in a posture to shed internal heat. Dens are used by different individuals, but not at the same time. At nightfall, they take up a lookout position at their den opening, and survey the surrounding area for about 15 minutes before leaving. They are active throughout the night, hunting and travelling an average of 5.4 km. Before retiring below ground at dawn, the same lookout position is adopted at the mouth of the burrow.

The first field study on these little cats was in Israel, where biologists discovered they were extremely difficult to track. The fur on the soles of their feet that prevents them from sinking in soft sand also makes their tracks almost invisible. When a light is trained on them, they crouch low, closing their eyes so that no reflection is visible. This behaviour, along with their excellent protective coloring, compounds the problem. They also bury all their scat, making it impossible to gather data about their diet. The territories of the males were found to overlap, with ranges being approximately 16 square kilometres.

Sand cats are solitary animals with a very low population, and make use of a loud mating call, much like the barking of a small dog. The loud barking, combined with excellent hearing, enables these cats to find each other over great distances. Other vocalizations include mewling, growling, spitting, hissing, screaming and purring much as in domestic cats. Grooming and defence behaviour is also similar to domestic felines, as is digging with their forepaws, particularly in sandy soil.

Breeding season is March - April, and after a 60 - 69 day gestation, one to five kittens are born annually in a burrow or among rocks. Weight at birth is 50 - 60 grams. At two weeks their eyes open, they first venture outside at three to four weeks, and eat their first solid food at five weeks. They become independent at three to four months, and sexual maturity is reached at about 9 - 14 months. They have lived to 13 years of age in captivity.

A Species Survival Program for sand cats was established by the Living Desert Museum in California in 1990. This is one of very few studbooks for small wild cats.

As with most of the small felids, their numbers in the wild are unknown. They are collected for the illegal pet trade, and wild specimens sunning themselves are still shot for ‘sport’. During the wars in their habitat, the fires and bombs don’t appear to have affected the cats. However, the large influx of men with guns who shoot at anything and everything is taking its toll. Fortunately, sand cats are mainly nocturnal and sleep during the hours when people are active.

Unlike most wild animals, the preferred habitat of sand cats is not being lost, and the ongoing desertification of the area should actually benefit the species. In Algeria, they are not considered a threat to poultry, or trapped to sell as pets. On the other hand, Toubou nomads living northwest of Lake Chad consider sand cats frequent chicken thieves, which readily enter their camp in the evenings. They do not generally retaliate, due to traditional religious respect for these small cats. Tradition holds that they were the companions of the Prophet Mohammed and his daughter.

One subspecies, the Pakistan sand cat, F. m. scheffeli, is listed as endangered, and may be extinct in the wild. Information is lacking on national legislation regarding the protection of sand cats, but hunting is prohibited in eight countries. A further 18 range countries either allow hunting, or no information is available. With the Pakistan subspecies on Appendix I, CITES has listed all other subspecies on Appendix II.

Updated June 2008