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    HomeScienceMeet Pallas's Cat: A feline that stands on its bushy tail to shield its paws and is among the world’s oldest

    Meet Pallas's Cat: A feline that stands on its bushy tail to shield its paws and is among the world’s oldest

    The elusive Pallas’s cat, one of the world’s oldest wild felines, has a unique habit of standing on its thick, bushy tail to shield its paws from freezing ground.

    Sheetal Kumari
    August 27, 2025 / 18:13 IST
    Grumpy Wild Cat: Meet the Pallas’s cat, or manul, a rare wild feline from Central Asia known for its grumpy face and dog-like yelps. (Image: Canva)
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    Grumpy Wild Cat: Meet the Pallas’s cat, or manul, a rare wild feline from Central Asia known for its grumpy face and dog-like yelps. (Image: Canva)
    Ancient Lineage: One of the oldest cat species, it diverged from a leopard ancestor about 5.2 million years ago. (Image: Canva)
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    Ancient Lineage: One of the oldest cat species, it diverged from a leopard ancestor about 5.2 million years ago. (Image: Canva)
    Compact Body: Though stocky-looking, it’s only the size of a house cat beneath its thick, insulating fur. (Image: Canva)
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    Compact Body: Though stocky-looking, it’s only the size of a house cat beneath its thick, insulating fur. (Image: Canva)
    Winetr Armour: The dense coat protects it from freezing winds across Central Asia’s steppe and high-altitude grasslands. (Image: Canva)
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    Winter Armour: The dense coat protects it from freezing winds across Central Asia’s steppe and high-altitude grasslands. (Image: Canva)
    Hidden Shelter: Secretive and solitary, Pallas’s cat hides in rocky crevices and marmot burrows during the day. (Image: Canva)
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    Hidden Shelter: Secretive and solitary, Pallas’s cat hides in rocky crevices and marmot burrows during the day. (Image: Canva)
    Stealth Hunter: It emerges at dusk, ambushing rodents at burrow exits—or scooping them out with its paws. (Image: Canva)
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    Stealth Hunter: It emerges at dusk, ambushing rodents at burrow exits—or scooping them out with its paws. (Image: Canva)
    Seasonal Camouflage: Its greyish, mottled fur changes with seasons, blending perfectly into rocky terrain for camouflage. (Image: Canva)
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    Seasonal Camouflage: Its greyish, mottled fur changes with seasons, blending perfectly into rocky terrain for camouflage. (Image: Canva)
    Clever Features: Low-set rounded ears keep it hidden, while its bushy tail helps balance and warmth. (Image: Canva)
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    Clever Features: Low-set rounded ears keep it hidden, while its bushy tail helps balance and warmth. (Image: Canva)
    Unique Eyes: Unlike most small cats, it has round pupils for sharp distance judgement in hunts. (Image: Canva)
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    Unique Eyes: Unlike most small cats, it has round pupils for sharp distance judgement in hunts. (Image: Canva)
    Elusive Survivor: Living up to nine years, this elusive feline marks vast territories and sometimes rests on its own tail to stay warm. (Image: Canva)
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    Elusive Survivor: Living up to nine years, this elusive feline marks vast territories and sometimes rests on its own tail to stay warm. (Image: Canva)
    Sheetal Kumari
    Sheetal Kumari is a skilled sub-editor and content creator with expertise in digital news, multimedia storytelling, and social media content. With a strong grasp of topics like science, politics, and many more, she crafts compelling narratives, transforming complex topics and trending stories into engaging, accessible reads across various media platforms.
    Tags: #camouflage #Central Asia #Manul #Pallas’s cat #rare species #science #wildlife conservation
    first published: Aug 27, 2025 06:12 pm

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