The Sand Cat, also known as Felis margarita, is adapted to living in the desert. Sand cats can be found in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Asia. Despite their size, they are known as ferocious hunters, usually of small rodents, hares, birds, spiders, insects, and reptiles.

See the fact file below for more information on the Sand Cat, or you can download our 23-page Sand Cat worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A SAND CAT

• Sand cats, also known as Felis margarita, are considered as true desert dwellers.
• Sand cats look like a domestic cat although their paws are furrier and their ears are bigger. 
• Sand cats are normally small yet stocky. They usually weigh between 11 to 14 inches and grow to about 18 to 22.5 inches. Their legs are short and their tail is relatively long, between 11 to 14 inches. 
• Sand cats have a broad head with large eyes and low-set ears. Their ears are tapered and provide them with keen hearing for their habitat where prey is usually scarce. 
• Since their habitat is hot, their feet are covered in thick fur and provide insulation from the extreme heat of a desert environment. 
• They also have a thick coat that insulates them from the alternating intense heat and cold.
• Sand cats usually have a pale, sandy to grey-brown coat. It is slightly darker on the back and paler on the belly.
• They also have occasional stripes on their legs and rings on their black-tipped tail. There are also reddish streaks running across each cheek from the outer corner of their eyes. 
• The lower part of the sand cat’s face to its chest is whitish to pale yellow.

SAND CAT’S HABITAT

• Some cats can probably survive in a hot climate. However, sand cats are the only cats that can survive not just in hot but also in arid habitats.
• They live in three regions of the world: the Sahara Desert in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and central parts of Asia, including Turkmenistan, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
• They inhabit dry plains and rocky valleys where conditions are extreme.
• Sand cats have ways to protect themselves from intense temperatures. First, their physical features, such as the thick fur on their paws and their insulated coat, allow them to adapt to these conditions.  Second, they can survive weeks without water.
• Sand cats are also excellent diggers. 
• When the desert temperature is extreme during the day, they dig a shallow burrow and lie on their back to shed internal heat. The fur on the soles of their feet prevents them from sinking into the soft sand. This also makes their tracks not very visible. This is why sand cats are hard to find in compacted soil.
• At nighttime, sand cats hunt. Thus, they are considered nocturnal animals.

SAND CATS’ FOOD/EATING HABITS

• Sand cats are carnivores. They can feed on insects and reptiles. They typically hunt for rodents, hares, and even snakes. 
• In the Sahara desert, aside from the fact that they are known as the “cat that digs holes”, they are also known as snake hunters.
• They stun their prey with rapid blows before biting it on the neck. They also use sand to kill their prey.
• Sand cats also use the moisture that they get from their prey to survive with no additional water.
• Sand cats hunt by skulking on the ground. They use their keen sense of hearing to detect prey. 
• The sound of a potential meal triggers the sand cat, and this will push them to dig rapidly to expose and capture the prey.
• Sand cats eat mice, bones, and rib bones at the Smithsonian National Zoo.

SAND CATS’ REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

• Sand cats are solitary cats except during their breeding season. This may mean that they are polygynous. 
• Hearing is important during this season as they use it as a form of communication. 
• They also use a large mating call that almost resembles the bark of a small dog. The barks and their excellent sense of hearing allow them to find their mates from a distance. 
• Sand cats have different breeding seasons. This period is based on location and may be affected by climate and resources. 
• For instance, sand cats in the Sahara Desert breed from January to April, while sand cats in Pakistan breed from September to October. 
• The gestation period lasts from 59 to 67 days. 
• Although female sand cats commonly give birth to a litter of two to four, they can give birth to as many as eight kittens.
• A kitten can weigh over 1 ounce at birth. At two weeks, their eyes start to open. Then they start to eat solid food and become independent at three to four months of age. 
• Sand cats grow fast and are nearly fully grown at five months old.
• They reach sexual maturity at nine to 14 months. 
• Meanwhile, sand cats in captivity often give birth to more than one litter a year.
• Their lifespan in the wild is not yet determined, but in human care, they can live up to 13 years.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SAND CATS

• Sand cats are also called “sand dune cats”. 
• Sand cats are nocturnal. They usually sleep in a burrow in the morning and hunt at night. 
• Once they catch prey, they can eat some and bury the rest of the body for future consumption. 
• Sand cats are master diggers. One recorded burrow they dug was 15 feet long. Their claws do not fully retract, so they can use them to dig. 
• Although they dig their own burrows, they also use burrows dug by other animals, like squirrels and gerbils, and enlarge them.
• It is almost impossible to track sand cats because they close their eyes at night to blend in with the environment when humans approach.
• Also, sand cats leave no footprints because of their paws. 

CONSERVATION OF SAND CATS

• Just like other wild animals, sand cats face threats due to habitat degradation and loss as well as the illegal pet trade. In fact, in 2002, they were listed as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• Laws were made to prohibit hunting these species, and zoologists around the world are working to make sure sand cats thrive. 
• In 2016, their status was changed to “least concern”.
• Breeding programs, for instance, in Tel Aviv’s Ramat Gan Safari, are conducted. This has also contributed to the rise in their population around the world.

Sand Cat Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Sand Cats across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about the Sand Cat, also known as Felis Margarita, which is adapted to living in the desert and can be found in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Asia.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Sand Cats Facts
2. True or False?
3. Identification
4. Cat Profile
5. Cat Body Parts
6. Cat Breed
7. Cat’s Life Cycle
8. Cats in Cold Places
9. My Pet
10. Conservation of Wild Animals
11. Protection of Wild Animals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is unique about sand cats?

Sand cats have a dense coat of fur that helps them move around quickly in their hot, dry environment. They also have tough pads on their feet that allow them to walk on shifting dunes. This coat also keeps them warm in extreme temperatures. In addition, they are not afraid of venomous snakes when they hunt and will go after them boldly.

How long do sand cats live?

These cats become independent when they are between three and four months old. They can have babies when they are 9-14 months old. Some cats in captivity have lived for 18 years. But the number of sand cats is decreasing because humans are destroying their homes. 

How fast can a sand cat run?

The sand cat is a swift animal. It can run up to 30–40 km/h in short periods.

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