Sand cats are small, pale and broad-headed, with very large ears set low on the skull. That ear position picks up faint sounds of prey moving under the sand while keeping the profile low.
Dense fur between the toes protects the pads from hot sand and spreads the animal's weight on loose surfaces, leaving tracks so indistinct that they are notoriously difficult to follow.
Size and measurements
| Head-body length | 15 in – 22 in (39–57 cm) |
|---|---|
| Tail length | 9 in – 14 in (23–35 cm) |
| Shoulder height | 9 in – 12 in (24–30 cm) |
| Body weight | 3–7.5 lb (1.35–3.4 kg) — One of the lightest cats of the Old World. |
| Top recorded speed | Not reliably measured — Not measured in the field. |
| Lifespan in the wild | 8–10 years |
| Lifespan under human care | 12–14 years |
Habitat and range
Sandy and stony desert with sparse vegetation, including dune fields, gravel plains and desert scrub where summer surface temperatures are extreme.
The Sahara from Morocco to Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
Diet and hunting
Gerbils and jerboas dominate; the cat also takes lizards, snakes, birds and large insects, and gets most of its water from its food.
Hunting strategy — Listening and digging. Locates prey by sound, often beneath the surface, then digs rapidly to reach burrowing rodents.
Behaviour and activity
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.
Nocturnal. Almost entirely night active, avoiding daytime surface temperatures that would be lethal.
Climbing and swimming
Climbing — Limited. Its habitat contains few trees; the species is built for digging rather than climbing.
Swimming — Very limited. Effectively never encounters standing water.
Conservation status
The Sand Cat is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a population trend recorded as stable in the assessment published in 2016.
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.
Documented threats
- Degradation of desert vegetation by grazing
- Off-road vehicle disturbance
- Trapping for the pet trade
- Killing by herding dogs
- Very limited monitoring data
Look up the current Red List assessment for Felis margarita
Notable traits
- 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 for this profile
- 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.