Species comparison
African Wildcat vs Sand Cat
A side-by-side look at Felis lybica and Felis margarita across body measurements, habitat, diet, behaviour and conservation status.
At a glance
- The african wildcat averages about 2 times the body mass of the sand cat.
- Both species use semi-arid scrub.
- Their ranges both include Africa and Asia.
- Both are currently listed as Least Concern on the Red List.
Identification
How each species is named and classified.
African Wildcat
Felis lybica
Sand Cat
Felis margarita
African Wildcat
Felis
Sand Cat
Felis
African Wildcat
Domestic cat lineage
Sand Cat
Domestic cat lineage
African Wildcat
Small cats
Sand Cat
Small cats
African Wildcat
Near Eastern wildcat, Asiatic wildcat
Sand Cat
Sand dune cat
Body and movement
Published field measurements for adults. Ranges cover both sexes unless noted.
African Wildcat
18 in – 2 ft 6 in (45–75 cm) Longer
Sand Cat
15 in – 22 in (39–57 cm)
African Wildcat
10 in – 15 in (25–38 cm) Longer
Sand Cat
9 in – 14 in (23–35 cm)
African Wildcat
13 in – 15 in (32–38 cm) Taller
Sand Cat
9 in – 12 in (24–30 cm)
African Wildcat
6.6–14 lb (3–6.5 kg) Heavier
Males average about a kilogram heavier than females.
Sand Cat
3–7.5 lb (1.35–3.4 kg)
One of the lightest cats of the Old World.
African Wildcat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
Sand Cat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
Life span
Typical adult longevity. Figures for managed care come from zoo and sanctuary records.
African Wildcat
8–12 years Longer
Sand Cat
8–10 years
African Wildcat
15–17 years Longer
Sand Cat
12–14 years
Habitat and range
Where each species lives and the conditions it tolerates.
African Wildcat
savanna, semi-arid scrub, dry forest, grassland, agricultural mosaic
Almost every habitat in Africa except rainforest interior and the driest sand seas, plus scrub and steppe across the Middle East and Central Asia.
Sand Cat
desert, semi-arid scrub
Sandy and stony desert with sparse vegetation, including dune fields, gravel plains and desert scrub where summer surface temperatures are extreme.
African Wildcat
Africa, Asia
Across Africa outside the Congo rainforest, and through the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, Central Asia and into western India and China.
Sand Cat
Africa, Asia
The Sahara from Morocco to Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
Diet and behaviour
Feeding ecology, social organisation and hunting technique.
African Wildcat
small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects
Rodents form the great majority of the diet, with birds, lizards and insects making up the remainder.
Sand Cat
small mammals, reptiles, birds, insects
Gerbils and jerboas dominate; the cat also takes lizards, snakes, birds and large insects, and gets most of its water from its food.
African Wildcat
Solitary
Solitary and territorial, though tolerant of human settlement — the same trait that started the domestication process.
Sand Cat
Solitary
Shelters in burrows during the day, either dug itself or taken over from rodents and foxes, and can range widely over a single night.
African Wildcat
Nocturnal and crepuscular
Mostly active from dusk to dawn, resting by day in burrows, thickets and rock crevices.
Sand Cat
Nocturnal
Almost entirely night active, avoiding daytime surface temperatures that would be lethal.
African Wildcat
Stalk and pounce on rodents
Hunts by walking slowly through cover, freezing at sounds and finishing with a short rush.
Sand Cat
Listening and digging
Locates prey by sound, often beneath the surface, then digs rapidly to reach burrowing rodents.
African Wildcat
Strong More developed
Climbs well and uses trees for escape and rest.
Sand Cat
Limited
Its habitat contains few trees; the species is built for digging rather than climbing.
African Wildcat
Very limited
Avoids water, in common with most arid-country cats.
Sand Cat
Very limited
Effectively never encounters standing water.
Conservation
Red List category, population direction and the pressures documented for each species.
African Wildcat
LC — Least Concern
Assessed 2022
Sand Cat
LC — Least Concern
Assessed 2016
African Wildcat
Decreasing
Sand Cat
Stable
African Wildcat
Hybridisation with domestic cats, Disease transmitted by domestic cats, Habitat conversion, Persecution near poultry, Road mortality
The species remains widespread, but genetic mixing with free-ranging domestic cats is eroding wild populations, particularly near settlements. Pure wild-type populations are increasingly restricted to remote areas.
Sand Cat
Degradation of desert vegetation by grazing, Off-road vehicle disturbance, Trapping for the pet trade, Killing by herding dogs, Very limited monitoring data
Assessed as Least Concern, though population data are sparse across an enormous and difficult range. Off-road vehicle traffic and trapping are known local pressures.
Notable traits
Details that do not fit neatly into a measurement table.
African Wildcat
- All domestic cats descend from this species, not from the European wildcat.
- Wild individuals sit with a distinctly upright posture that helps separate them from feral tabbies.
- Genetic screening is now a standard part of conservation work, since appearance alone cannot confirm a pure wild animal.
Sand Cat
- It can survive for long periods without drinking, taking the water it needs from prey.
- Fur-covered footpads leave tracks that are almost impossible to read in soft sand.
- Field surveys often rely on night driving, because the species is otherwise practically invisible.
Sources used for this comparison
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Global assessment categories, population trends and documented threats.
- IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group Species accounts, distribution notes and Cat News reporting for every wild felid.
- Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation Dedicated research and field reporting on the lesser-known felids.
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Reviewed species accounts with morphometric ranges and reproductive data.
- National Geographic — Animals General natural-history reference for behaviour, range and ecology.