Peculiarities of education and lifestyle of a dune cat

The sand cat remains a mystery to modern people in many ways, despite the fact that this species was discovered more than a hundred years ago. The sand cat was destined to inhabit the most inaccessible corners of the planet, hardly compatible with life. In the merciless deserts of North Africa and Central Asia, these animals found their home.

Dune cat: description of the species

Developed hunter skills and the ability to competently distribute food and water resources allow representatives of the breed to populate the Arabian Peninsula to this day. The main danger for the Arabian cat is the person himself, who once saw in him an outlandish animal and is desperately trying to tame this animal.

Background

The time of the appearance of the dune cat and its further settlement are shrouded in mystery. Observations of this animal began relatively recently due to the difficult conditions in which sand cats live. What can we say, we owe the very discovery of this breed to chance.

The meeting of the general and two exotic cats marked the beginning of the study of this species

The sand cat, among all other representatives of the cat family, was lucky enough to be discovered twice. It was first discovered by the French general Jean Auguste Marguerite along with his expedition to the Sahara in 58 of the century before last.

The wild cat received its Latin name thanks to this historical meeting.

On the border between Libya and Algeria, a hiking group met two cats of unusual appearance, which could not help but attract the name. So they named this unprecedented beast in honor of the successful general - Felis margarita. The Latin designation itself was introduced by naturalist scientist Victor-Jean-François Loshomme.

There are several subspecies of the sand cat, and those that have already been discovered are far from the limit

Almost 70 years later, the dune cat again received attention, but this time from the Moscow researcher Sergei Ognev, who described it as a species. This time the sand cat was discovered in the Karakum and Kyzyl-Kum deserts. The confusion about the discoverers can be overcome if we take into account that the North African branch of the breed was discovered in the Sahara, and the Central Asian branch was discovered in the Kyzyl-Kum deserts.

Subspecies

Today there are four subspecies of the sand cat, depending on their habitat:

Table 1. Subspecies of the sand cat

The subspecies differ from each other in coat color, without having any fundamental differences in physique or lifestyle.

The search for new possible habitats of the sand cat continues

Appearance of an Arabian cat

External data will be covered in detail in the tables below, but for now let’s dwell on the remarkable details of the dune cat. First of all, the tiny size of the predator attracts attention. In size, the sand cat is inferior even to many domestic breeds. The length of its body does not exceed a meter, and the tail occupies slightly less than half of the total size, reaching 30-40 cm.

The favorable location of the dune cat's ears prevents sand from becoming clogged in them and allows them to pick up the finest sounds.

Another characteristic feature of sand cats is their thick whiskers. Smoothly turning into large fluffy ears, they make the cat's face round and vaguely similar to the disk of the sun. It may seem that the animal's ears are larger than its head, and the head itself is slightly disproportionate for such a small, graceful body.

The sand cat's big eyes can let him down when he encounters an enemy.

The huge eyes attract attention, especially in those moments when the animal’s pupils are constricted. The sand cat knows this peculiarity of his, and also knows how it can give him away and even cost him his life. The fact is that all the disguise will go down the drain if the dune cat’s eyes glare from the refracted rays. Therefore, when he smells an enemy, he always presses himself to the ground and keeps his eyes closed.

“Mittens” on the paws prevent numerous burns, which are easy to get in the hot desert

The soles of the paws of dune cats are protected by a thick layer of thick and tough fur, which performs several useful functions:

• allows the cat not to leave traces behind;
• protects delicate paw pads from hot sand;
• creates support by fixing the paw in the sand so that the cat does not get stuck in the quicksand.

Table 2 . Sand cat exterior

By the way! Many people believe that the sand cat is the smallest representative of wild cats, but this is not so. The real record holders for miniature size are the black-footed wild cats that live in southern Africa. The maximum length of their body is half a meter, and the average weight is one and a half kilograms.

The very modest size is explained by the ability to fit in small holes, which the cat easily pulls out with strong paws

Table 3. Dimensions of the dune cat

Fur

The fur of a sand cat cannot be called very thick, lush or long. It has those qualities that are most practical in desert conditions: the desert cat is thick enough to prevent hypothermia, because at night the temperature in deserts sometimes drops below zero, and light enough to not overheat in the sultry heat under the scorching sun.

Not a single hunter is interested in the fur of the dune cat, which allows for better preservation of the species

Color

As already mentioned, the color of the dune cat depends on its habitat. There are representatives of the breed with fur of golden, light brown, and even gray shades. The rich palette of colors is explained by one main goal - to merge with the sand surface as unnoticeably as possible.

Light beige color is more common in nature

Camouflage is a necessity without which an animal cannot survive in the desert, in the vastness of which it is hardly possible to hide at any other time. The ability of the sand cat to move quickly and almost silently, without leaving any traces in the sand, makes hunting it extremely difficult.

Natural camouflage allows the sand cat to hide even from the watchful eye of a bird of prey

Add to these skills the complete color fusion of a sand cat with sand, and it becomes completely unsurprising why this animal remains in many ways inaccessible to researchers.

Following the trail of a sand cat is an impossible task

Despite the difference in colors, the color of the Arabian cat follows some general patterns:

• in the area of ​​the chin and chest the fur is several shades lighter;
• the legs and head are decorated with a dark pattern;
• the tip of the tail is always black;
• in winter, the coat becomes duller in color with a gray undertone.

Breed standard

The felinological European WCF system gives the following description of the reference specimens of the Arabian Mau.

Head

It has the shape of a rounded modified wedge. The profile is elongated, the chin is well formed, the whisker pads are moderately developed. Short nose. The forehead is flat and narrow.

Eyes

Large, oval-shaped, not very widely spaced. The color matches the coat color. Preference is given to clear and pure shades.

Ears

Quite large, widely spaced and located slightly at an angle to the base of the skull. Gradually taper to a rounded tip. They have an internal and small external edge.

Wool

Short and stiff, lying close to the body. There is no undercoat. Finer and softer hair is acceptable in kittens up to 18 months.

Color

Numerous and varied. The most common, also characteristic of the Turkish Van, is red with white spots.

Red with white

Solid colors (i.e. solid, uniform) are extremely rare, for example, anthracite-black (it should not have a rusty tint), pure snow, red (red), brown, gray. Bicolor, tabby (with spots or stripes), and tortie (tortoiseshell) colors are also common.

Anthracite-black Pure snow Two types of red Mau tabby

Silver with spots

Only intrabreeds. Read about mating cats and female cats.

Disqualification criteria

Animals are not accepted to participate in exhibitions with the following deficiencies:

• excessive thinness;
• weak limbs;
• too graceful physique;
• excessively delicate and silky wool;
• small sizes.

Photo gallery of Arabian Mau:

Habitat of the sand cat

From the very name of the breed it is easy to guess that dune cats are regulars in the driest and most difficult to inhabit places on the planet, mainly European deserts. The strip along which representatives of the breed settled begins in North Africa (Algeria, Southern Morocco, Chad, Niger) and stretches across the entire Arabian Peninsula, reaching the countries of Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and (less often) Kazakhstan. Sand cats were found in both Israel and Jordan, but in these regions they have now almost disappeared.

Places where dune cats previously took root are gradually decreasing

Interspecies interactions

The main threats to the sand cat are large birds of prey (golden eagles, eagle owls and owls), snakes and large mammalian predators (caracals, hyenas, wolves, foxes and jackals).

Photo: Joel Sartore

Interspecific competition for prey may also limit sand cat populations. Native predator densities are several times greater than those of wild cats, and many species rely heavily on the same small rodents for food.

Habitat

The sand cat lives in conditions in which other breeds could only survive, and even then with great difficulty. Even humans rarely visit the habitats of these animals, due to the difficulty of survival in deserts. Sand cats choose the most waterless areas, remaining alone with dunes and dry bushes.

Dune cats do not like looking for easy ways

It would be a big misconception to think that sand cats are found only in the sand. Sometimes representatives of the breed can be found among the rocks adjacent to deserts, in the gorges of which they make “homes” for themselves. Rocky valleys overgrown with shrubs are also inhabited by these animals. Dune cats also come out to the banks of reservoirs.

Sand cat lifestyle

The scarcity of desert lands for food encourages sand cats to constantly move. In the conditions of sand dunes stretching for hundreds of kilometers, the path is indicated by the prey, which the cat follows.

Permanent nomads, sand cats have learned to flexibly adapt to environmental conditions

From the merciless rays of the sun, the sand cat most often takes refuge in holes, usually fox holes. These animals will not refuse the burrows of porcupines and corsacs. Sand cats also dig holes themselves, but, as a rule, small ones in order to hide from danger. Digging is easy for these animals due to their short legs. These animals leave their shelters mainly at night, since hunting in the light of the sun is hardly a feasible task.

The presence of its own powerful paws does not in the least prevent the dune cat from settling into already prepared holes

By the way! Climbing out of the hole, the sand cat freezes for several minutes. This pause allows him to "scan" the nearby area without becoming visible to enemies. The animal performs the same thorough inspection on the way home after the hunt.

No sand cat will start hunting before he is sure of his safety.

The specificity of metabolic processes in the body of a sand cat brings it closer to a camel. These animals extract the main moisture from food and are also able to go without water for a long time. Cats manage to avoid large fluid losses by being active at night.

The Arabian cat more than makes up for its small size in agility. In one night, this beast can cover an area of ​​ten square kilometers. Covering such large areas is easy for the sand cat thanks to its “signature” movement technique. While running, this animal keeps its body very close to the ground, while its head is lowered low to create the greatest streamlining of the body.

Night runs of several kilometers are commonplace for the Arabian cat

At first glance, this method does not seem successful, however, thanks to it, the nimble beast reaches speeds of up to 40 km/h. This method of movement also allows you to remain unnoticed from the outside, since the rapid movements of the paws merge with the general background of the sand.

A rare predator is able to spot a fast sand cat even in daylight

By the way! People who had contact with Arabian cats noted the animal’s developed intelligence. When the cat encountered lanterns aimed at him, he leaned toward the ground and closed his eyes, guessing in advance that the light reflections reflected in them could give him away.

Arabian cats really do not like to get caught in the rain, which is already rare in deserts, as well as in the territories adjacent to them. These animals prefer to wait out the rains in their shelters. The burrows in which sand cats hide reach one and a half meters in depth.

Dune cats welcome their comrades from neighboring territories.

Despite the fact that the “fiefdoms” of sand cats sometimes overlap, these animals live alone, looking for a mate only during the breeding season.

Hunting

In conditions of shortage of everything, dune cats could not help but learn masterly hunting. Usually these animals do not engage in direct confrontation, since they are sometimes smaller in size than their possible prey. Arabian cats prefer to ambush their prey completely unexpectedly, confusing it.

Unpretentiousness and thriftiness are two key skills that allow the dune cat to survive in the desert

Let us separately dwell on the fights between dune cats and snakes, for which this breed is famous. Arabian cats often emerge victorious in competitions even with such dangerous individuals as the horned viper, thanks to their tactics. Cats deftly stun their opponents with a blow to the head and quickly finish with a fatal bite to the neck.

Researchers were lucky to capture the moment of intense struggle

In winter, sand cats approach settlements, but they are not interested in poultry, which is typical for Amur forest cats. We also talk about the Amur subspecies Thus, some cats can enter the territories of other cats, which is perceived by representatives of the breed completely calmly. After hunting, the stranger returns to his native places.

Diet of the dune cat

The poverty of their native lands led to the extreme unpretentiousness of sand cats in their food. To briefly summarize their diet, these animals will eat anything that moves. The most traditional representatives of the desert fauna become the sand cats' lunch:

• rodents (gerbils, jerboas);
• spiders;
• lizards;
• small birds;
• hares;
• insects;
• snakes.

Desert predators do not disdain insects

Living in conditions of constant lack of food and drink has taught sand cats to competently handle food resources. These animals never leave uneaten prey, hiding it in a secluded place until the next meal. As a rule, food supplies are buried in the sand, and a developed sense of smell easily allows a wild cat to find the cache again.

Enemies

Animals that attempt to kill the Arabian cat include birds of prey, jackals, and monitor lizards. Don’t forget about the main enemy of many wild cats – humans. But it should be noted that poachers are hardly interested in the tedious tracking of dune cats in the hot desert.

The Arabian cat is a valuable commodity in many cat markets.

Arabian cats are most readily caught for sale. Purposeful sellers who want to sell an exotic pet at a higher price to an unreasonable buyer pose a real threat to this small species at the moment.

Arab countries have not yet had time to assess the damage caused to these rare representatives of cats

The main enemy of dune cats is overgrazing and ineffective management of pasture resources in general, which is characteristic of Arab countries, which leads to the destruction of the territories native to Arabian cats.

Breed

For a thousand years, according to the history of the Arab countries, proud and hardy desert cats lived on the Arabian Peninsula. They existed in difficult natural conditions, mainly leading a nocturnal lifestyle, because in the desert temperatures acceptable for hunting are set closer to the night time. After many years, the ancient Arabs gradually began to domesticate them.

These animals were distinguished by such qualities as resistance to the scorching sun and difficult living conditions. They were also valuable for their hunting qualities. Soon, desert representatives of the feline world began to be found more often near the cities of the Middle East, since it is much easier to find food near human settlements.

For a long time, local cats were simply not noticed, and foreign ones were still welcomed with cordiality. More recently, the Arabian cat was appreciated. MECATS UAE President Petra Muller was the first to pay tribute to the natural grace and gentle disposition of the animal in 2004. She showed sensitivity and interest in the feline inhabitants of the streets.

Since that time, breeders began to be interested in breeding the desert cat. A few years later, in 2008, there were already four generations of animals in the world, totaling 18 pets. The breed was named after its primary habitat and historical homeland - the Arabian Mau. During the same period of time, it was recognized by the WCF organization and a standard was developed for it.

They can treat all family members well, and even sometimes obey them, but the real authority, whose commands will be carried out unquestioningly, is only one person. Usually a person of similar temperament is selected.

The Mau's favorite pastime is climbing on high surfaces. In a home environment, these are cabinets and upper shelves, and outdoors there can be play sets or just climbing a hill.

Despite his affection and kindness, he does not like to sit on his owner’s lap. His destiny is to sit next to him on the sofa and control the situation with a sleepy look. But at the same time, the cat is always on the alert, and can instantly take off.

The name of the breed itself contains an indication of its origin. They are short-haired wild cats that originated in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. Later, when lack of water and food brought them to cities, they quickly became domesticated. Although today you can find a large number of wild cats that come to people only to get food and water.

The breed received official recognition by international associations only in 2004, when it was decided to launch conservation efforts. In just four years, breeders managed to create four generations of cats, which gave birth to many representatives of the Arabian Mau breed.

Today the breed is distributed throughout the world. It cannot be said that they are in too much demand; there is no rush for Mau as an ornamental breed. But Arabian cats are not inferior to famous felines in intelligence, intelligence and cleanliness. Therefore, they always become pets, adored by the whole family.

Reproduction

Sand cats give birth once a year. Due to the fact that the habitats of sand cats are varied, they do not have a single time allotted for the mating season. It all depends on the specific region and climate. In North Africa, the breeding season lasts from January to April, but in Turkmenistan it starts only in April. In Pakistan, the rut occurs between September and October.

The breeding season does not coincide among furry inhabitants of different deserts

During the mating season, cats actively use their vocal cords (which they avoid on other days) and call females to them with cries. The opposite option is also possible - females also notify males of their readiness.

By the way! In honor of the unusual sounds made by these individuals, they are jokingly called “barking cats”, since these cries are more like the barking of small breeds of dogs.

Arabian cats bear kittens for two months. From 2 to 8 kittens can be born at a time. On average, two to three cubs are born. Males, as a rule, leave females after mating and do not form a single family. Dune cats raise their offspring on their own, fortunately, they grow very quickly.

Growing up a sand cat

Kittens are born blind in a hole already prepared by the mother cat. Their eyes open after two weeks and have a bluish tint, which gradually gives way to yellow. Surprisingly light (kittens weigh up to 30 g at first), sand kittens quickly gain weight within a month, feeding on their mother's milk.

Sand cat surrounded by blind kittens

By the second month of their life, kittens begin to eat solid food and leave their den, exploring the surroundings side by side with their parent, who teaches them to hunt. The kittens spend another three or four months under the supervision of their mother. At the age of six months, they already feel the strength to leave their parents and begin a completely independent life.

Almost from the first months, kittens keep their mother's company during the hunt.

Puberty occurs in different ways for sand cats. Some individuals mature as early as 9 months, some within a year, and others linger for up to 14 months.

By the way! Ordinary people who do not travel through deserts were able to see with their own eyes the cubs of the dune cat quite recently. Three years ago, the Israeli Zoological Center revealed to the world three kittens born to the sand cat Rotem, who had previously been the lone representative of this breed in an Israeli park.

Population status

You can easily find a variety of statements regarding the number of dune cats. Information varies from tens of thousands to a couple of hundred copies. Such a significant scatter of data occurs because no one, not even scientists, has accurate calculations. Only now, thanks to the development of video equipment, are we gradually beginning to accumulate knowledge about these secretive animals.

It is hardly possible to count all sand cats

Zoological centers relatively recently took the sand cat under their protection and began to monitor its safety. The latest generally accepted figure, expressed by scientists after several years of observing sand cats, is 50 thousand adult individuals. However, these data, obtained more than twenty years ago, are clearly outdated and need to be rechecked.

Humanity realized quite late that the sand cat needed protection

At the moment, this animal is listed in the International Red Book as “close to vulnerable”. Catching representatives of the breed without a permit issued by some reserves is strictly prohibited. Of course, a strict ban does not exclude its periodic violations.

Zoos

Those few zoos that are lucky enough to keep the sand cat take great care of it. The fact that the Israeli sand cat gave birth to offspring made the workers of the zoological center happy, who did everything so that the last remaining Arabian cats could survive in Israel. There was even a report about this joyful event, which is given below.

Video - The long-awaited baby dune cat

As already mentioned, the sand cat is a rarity for all zoos in the world. According to the latest data, only 9 individuals of this species are distributed among different zoological centers. From time to time they can be transported so that dune cats have offspring. For example, Kalahari, the partner of the Israeli cat Rotem, came from Sweden.

Adults do not get along well with each other in captivity

Due to the fact that many representatives of the breed living in zoos come from the same pair, there is a high risk of inbreeding and the birth of non-viable offspring. There is evidence that half of the cubs born in captivity die due to the mother’s refusal to care for them.

Five years ago, two dune cats were transported from the Tallinn Menagerie (Estonia) to the Nikolaev Zoo. Nothing is known about the current condition of the animals.

Is it possible to keep a dune cat at home?

The unusual colorful appearance of the Arabian cat and its apparent similarity to domestic breeds make it a desirable acquisition for many cat lovers. It seems that such a compact animal will live comfortably in a country house or even an apartment. But is it?

To date, there is not enough information on how well kittens get along with their owners

From all of the above, it is not difficult to conclude that the dune cat and captivity are two completely incompatible concepts. But, since they usually don’t ask a cat when they adopt it, without thinking about its usual lifestyle, let’s dwell on this point. It should be remembered that conditions that are normal for a domestic cat are a source of stress for a wild cat.

Content details

Think about it: is your home similar in climatic and tactile characteristics to the Sahara? If not, then you will have to take several steps towards this similarity.

1. Low humidity should become a law, since this is the environment in which the sand cat has lived for centuries and to which it has managed to adapt. How the skin and health of cats will react to such a change is an open question.
2. The air temperature should be constant regardless of the time of year. It is advisable to acquire a thermostat to carefully regulate possible changes.
3. Since the dune cat’s immunity is not ready for a radical change in conditions, vaccination is the first place to start caring for your pet. However, even in the case of preventive vaccination, one cannot be sure that the animal will not catch some infection against which its body has never developed an immune response.
4. Accustomed to exploring miles-long wastelands, the cat will be at a loss when he finds himself in a two-room apartment. The need for open spaces for animals is not an empty phrase. It will not be able to just give up its instincts associated with exploring the area and hiding food. Prepare in advance to find pieces of meat in the most unexpected places.
5. Wild cats are much more active than their domesticated counterparts. Therefore, it would be desirable to have an interactive area in the house for your pet, on which he could climb. Otherwise, the pet will use any available furniture for its maneuvers.

Details of handling the sand cat are given below.

Useful tips for taming a dune cat

Buying a dune cat

When purchasing a supposed sand cat, you can never be sure of your purchase. Since there are no official nurseries that have permission to breed sand cats, the buyer always deals with underground organizations or individual sellers.

In this case, you cannot talk to the official breeder and find out the characteristics of the breed.

If you are persistent in purchasing this particular breed, it is recommended to pay attention to the kittens so that you can try to raise them.

By the way! Growing up, sand cats will still remember their roots and show their rebellious nature sooner or later. Therefore, it is not advisable for inexperienced potential owners to begin their acquaintance with cats with such a difficult breed to tame.

Price

The price for a dune cat starts from six thousand dollars and depends on the seller’s sense of proportion. On average, they can ask for two hundred thousand rubles for an exotic animal. It is possible to find cheaper options, but you need to be aware that the animals sold may not always be healthy to begin with. It is even more pointless to talk about whether they have any documents or certificates of vaccinations.

The inflated price of a dune cat is a natural state of affairs on the underground market

Feeding

Among the dishes for the sand cat, since we are talking about a predator, meat dishes should dominate. Live food is preferred, but raw meat is also digestible. Sand cats and offal are readily eaten.

The main thing in feeding a wild cat is to monitor the sufficient amount of vitamins consumed

Taking vitamin supplements daily should become a habit. The owner should pay special attention to ensuring that the animal consumes a sufficient amount of calcium. On average, a sand cat should eat half a kilogram of meat per day.

Lifestyle, character and habits

Under natural conditions, these animals do not gather in packs. An adult sand cat is quite capable of feeding itself alone; in a group only females with growing kittens go out hunting.

From the heat of the day, dune cats hide in holes. They can dig them themselves, or they can use ready-made holes of corsacs (steppe foxes). Sometimes sand cats expand gerbil burrows to live.

They lead a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. The only exception is Pakistani sand cats; these animals hunt not only in the dark, but also at dusk.

Before the hunt begins, cats sit motionless in their shelter and listen sensitively to their surroundings. Only after 15 minutes the cat will come out of the shelter. At the end of the hunt, dune cats perform the same ritual. This allows them to avoid encounters with predators that could climb into the hole.

Enemies that threaten the life of sand cats are large birds of prey, monitor lizards, jackals and some snakes.

Lifespan of a sand cat

If we consider the most successful cases, sand cats live 12-14 years in captivity. However, it is not worth comparing the conditions of an apartment and the conditions of safari parks. In the second case, the animals are surrounded by competent specialists who have a set of medications at hand for all occasions. Even these trained people lose several newborn kittens, let alone ordinary mortals.

An extended but boring life in captivity or a full life in your native desert?

Surrounded by love and care, but not receiving proper care, these animals can die unexpectedly and early for reasons that the owner had no idea about. Hopes for the competence of a veterinarian may not be justified, since documented knowledge on how to maintain the health of an Arabian cat simply does not exist. This once again confirms the incompatibility of representatives of the breed with life within four walls.

Domestication

At home, the sand cat often gets sick and suffers due to an unnatural temperature regime. For it it is necessary to create conditions as close as possible to the natural environment. Otherwise, the animal will wither away very quickly.

Representatives of this breed are not bred in nurseries, so a domesticated animal has difficulty adapting to new conditions. The former wild animal will still live as nature intended: be nocturnal, hunt and try to escape.

Unlike long-tamed breeds of cats, dune cats do not trust humans. It takes a lot of effort to ensure that the animal recognizes its owners and does not try to leave them. Dune cats are not the best choice as pets.