This lovely animal is very reminiscent of long-haired domestic cat, lives in Middle and Central Asia.It prefers to settle in the forest and steppe, as well as in mountainous areas with brushwood.Much less wild cat found in the woods.
For this animal is characterized by fierce and somewhat unhappy expression muzzle.Someone sees him sad and puzzled.In addition, it should be noted that the very bad manul tame.On the domestic cat have in common only the appearance of it.Their characters and habits are quite different.
appearances
Steppe cat manul, the photo of which at some sites in 2008 caused a lot of noise - a small animal, weighing less than 5 kg and a body length of about 65 cm. Wide and bushy tail is not too long - notmore than 30 cm. The feet are short and thick, "armed with" sharp retractable claws.
Pallas - wild cat with a memorable appearance.It is similar to the usual for us a pet, but has a very dense body and a very thick fur light gray.It is the most representative of the kind of fluffy cat.On his back every square centimeter counts 9,000 hair.Coat Length - 7 cm. Each has a white tip of the hairs.It gives a luxurious fur silver hue.
Color can be smoky-gray or pale red.At the tail of thin strips of black.Similar strips are on the muzzle.Man'ula forehead is marked with dark specks.
Particularly noteworthy are the eyes of the animal - the big, yellow.Unlike domestic cats wild cat manul, the photo you can see in this article, is round instead of vertical pupils.The animal has a great hearing and vision, but a good sense of smell Pallas' cat can not boast.
Species
Nowadays there are three subspecies of the steppe cat:
- Siberian or nominee.He lives in the northern part of the range.It has a gray color.
- Central Asian who lives in Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, in northern Iran.It features red fur.
- Tibet - with a darker fur, black stripes on the tail and body and a bright spots on the head.She lives in North India, North Pakistan, Tibet, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan.
Lifestyle
Pallas - the slow steppe wild cat.Run quickly, he can not.This cat - a loner.Each individual living on its territory and it immediately casts a stranger.Steppe cat goes hunting at night or early in the morning and slept during the day in burrows or crevices.It feeds on rodents, but it can cope with the hare or gopher.In summer, it feeds on insects.
enemies Man'ula
protects against enemies heavy-handed cat is difficult.His main enemies - owls, owls, wolves.Most of all, he tries to run away from them, hide.Leaping on the rocks or stones, cat reveals sharp teeth, snorting.Manul often falls into the trap set by other animals.
Progeny
mating season takes place in February and March.At this time, cats arrange violent fights because of the cats.Progeny appears annually.The litter typically can be from two to six kittens.Participation in the education of the kids do not take cats.But mother cat caring for her offspring very carefully - licks, milk feeds, warms its warmth.But if the cat is unhappy with the behavior of kittens, she bites them.In the first three months, the family goes hunting.Under natural conditions, steppe cat lives 10 to 12 years.
Number and distribution
Unfortunately, the exact number of these animals is very difficult to establish, as the wild cat common mosaic and behaves very secretive.Everywhere, and in protected areas including manul is very rare in many areas is on the verge of extinction.
This type of steppe cat was listed in the Red Book of Russia, as well as a list of the IUCN (which replaced the International Red Book).It manul received the status of "Near Threatened".
especially dangerous for Man'ula destruction of its habitat.This could be a result of grazing, poaching, mining.Often these animals are destroying homes hunting and herding dogs.Despite the strict ban, it is still sold mittens and even fur coats this rare animal.
Steppenwolf caracal cat
Another great representative of the cat family - Caracal.In nature, it is a predator, belonging to the family of lynxes.Externally, they resemble their distant relatives.However, scientists have identified as a separate species Caracal, because of some genetic characteristics.
Appearance
this wild cat (photo in this article will convince you of this) is very similar to the trot.If not for a small size and solid color, it easily could be mistaken for a dangerous predator.
Caracal has a graceful body length of 82 cm, the tail is 30 cm. Height 45 cm. Weight can reach 19 kg.Set high triangular ears topped with fluffy brushes, which can be up to 5 cm.
Wool very thick, short.The color can be reddish brown on the back, abdomen white, on the sides there are black markings.
Caracal in nature
this wild cat - a predator.It is active at night.Very rarely out of the hole in the daytime.Caracals are found in deserts, savannas, in the foothills of Africa, Minor and Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula.Besides, sometimes they can be found in the desert in southern Turkmenistan.It lives in burrows and rock crevices.
caracals to hunt small birds and animals, which runs very fast.When a cat is hunting, he can snatch from soaring flocks of several birds.Despite such dexterity, he prefers to hunt small rodents and reptiles.
Interesting facts
Caracal can go without water for a long time, dispensing a liquid derived from mining.Sharp fangs, he pierces the throat of its prey, and "steel" jaws holds it.Indigenous caracal teeth and claws as sharp as a blade.
in the wild caracals (leopards) tightened its prey on the trees, hiding her other predators.
Unusual pets
These predators, unlike Pallas' cats, easily tamed, so fans of the exotic strive to settle them at home.I must say that they succeed.
Tamed caracals - very affectionate and kind animals.
features content
Acquire caracal kitten preferably in the age of 6 months.If your plans do not include professional breeding of these animals, they should be immediately neutered or spayed.
If your house have small children, you think well, getting a cat.Do not forget that above all it is a predator, so if you offend him, he can answer.
caracals as ordinary domestic cats need to be vaccinated, to monitor the state of their health, care for the hair.
Power big cats must contain poultry, fish, beef, rabbit, occasionally eggs.Pork is strictly forbidden - it can cause serious feline disease - Aujeszky's disease.From the diet of the steppe cat is necessary to completely eliminate salted or spiced foods.The animals should be given vitamins.Caracal can be fed and dry food, but of the highest quality.
At home graceful caracals admire his grace, also nice to know that your house is living a "manual" predator.
