Happy International Pallas' Cat Day!

To celebrate or not to celebrate International Pallas’ Cats Day…there’s no question! At the Claws & Paws Pathway, 4-year-old sisters Akar and Ceba are amazing ambassadors for their species, teaching visitors what makes these felines so fascinating.
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Great Cats keeper Sydney says Akar is cautious yet confident. On most cool-weather days, she lounges atop her “mushroom” platform near the back of the exhibit, surveying the grounds, local wildlife and keepers. Ceba is the more energetic of the two. She enthusiastically participates in training sessions and zooms around the exhibit in anticipation of her mouse rewards! In the wild, they hunt by ambushing prey as it exits its burrow.
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Pallas’ cats’ range spans from Iraq and Afghanistan to Nepal and Mongolia. They live in grasslands, shrublands, deserts and rocky areas where temps. can be as cold as -58 ° Fahrenheit and as hot as 140° Fahrenheit! Their brownish-gray coats help them blend in. Pallas’ cats and their prey are threatened by livestock overgrazing, mining and land development. Often, they use the tunnels made by burrowing species-including marmots-as shelter. Loss of habitat also affects their prey; pika, for example, make up about 50% of their diet.
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You can help save Pallas' cats by learning more about them! To help protect their habitats, you can buy pre-owned or repurposed products before purchasing something new. Or, donate your time or money to conservation groups dedicated to helping Pallas' cats in the wild.