The Survival Tactic Behind This Very Flat Cat

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The Pallas’s cat is a curious creature that looks perpetually unimpressed with life, while somehow still retaining an undeniable charm. You can’t really blame it for having such a serious expression, considering it lives in some of the toughest places on the planet. But beyond its cute yet grumpy facial features, the Pallas’s cat has a surprising defense mechanism. As shown in this YouTube video, it can flatten its entire body to look just like a rock!

Where Do Pallas’s Cats Live?

Pallas’s cats (Otocolobus manul) are native to Central Asia. Most live in China and Mongolia, but they can also be found scattered across other countries like Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, and even as far west as Iran. These special cats are built to survive harsh conditions, living in high-altitude deserts, mountain grasslands, open plains, and rocky areas. They often make their homes in burrows, rock crevices, and caves, which keep them safe, help regulate their body temperature, and provide a place to eat and raise their kittens.

Pallas’s cats are ambush hunters and mostly prey on small rodents. Pikas, in particular, make up about half of their diet, but they also hunt other animals such as voles, gerbils, small marmots, and occasionally birds or lizards. They quietly move through rocky and dry areas to find food, often waiting near animal burrows to catch their next meal. Despite their small size, Pallas’s cats can travel surprisingly long distances, with hunting territories that can cover up to 129 square miles.

How Pallas’s Cats Beat the Cold

The Pallas’s cat takes home the award for the plushest and softest coat in the animal kingdom. This furry creature has the densest fur of any cat on Earth. They need this unbelievably plush coat to survive the extremely cold winters in their habitat. Temperatures can plummet to -50 degrees Fahrenheit! Their fluffy tails are also very useful; they can wrap them around their bodies for extra warmth or even stand on their tails to keep their paws nice and cozy.

During the winter, Pallas’s cats have a grayish coat, which helps them blend into the snowy landscapes. In the summer, their fur often takes on more reddish or yellow tones. Each individual hair has a white tip, which gives the cats’ coats a beautiful frosted or silvery sheen. Summers can also get quite hot, reaching up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, so the cats shed most of their thick fur to stay cool.

In addition to their dense fur, Pallas’s cats have strong muscles and a layer of fat that provides extra insulation against the cold. Their legs are short and stocky, and they have small, rounded ears, all of which contribute to their compact body shape that helps them conserve heat. They typically grow to 19.5 to 25.5 inches long and weigh 5 to 9 pounds.

Why This Cat Lays Flat

Pallas’s cats live in rocky areas, but when they hunt, they often cross open areas in search of food. This can be risky for these small wild cats because there aren’t many trees or bushes to hide behind. They are hunted by eagles, foxes, and dogs, but fortunately, as seen in this YouTube video, the cats are masters of hiding in plain sight.

When Pallas’s cats have to travel across wide open spaces with little to no protection, they stay safe by becoming part of the landscape itself. The cats find a spot to rest or wait, then freeze in place, flattening their bodies against the ground and remaining completely still. Unlike other cats, Pallas’s cats have flat, rounded ears and heads, which help them lie low and blend into the ground. Their fur also helps them blend in with their surroundings. This makes it difficult for predators to distinguish the cats from small rocks on the ground.

How Long Do These Cats Stay Flat?

A Pallas’s cat can stay in this flattened position for a very long time, even letting snow pile up around its body and face. The cat’s eyes are set higher on its face compared to other cats, which allows it to see even when covered in snow. When the cat decides to move, it does so slowly. It uses its short, sturdy legs to crawl close to the ground until it reaches safety.

Pallas’s cats rely on their excellent hearing, eyesight, and sense of smell to determine when to flatten themselves and when it’s safe to move again. They also have uniquely round pupils, similar to those of big cats like lions and tigers, which help them see much better in the dim light of their environment.

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