Stalwart Sand Cats

I know - another cat post.  But this cat is a very unusual one.  It looks very much like a domestic cat, but it's actually a Sand Cat that lives only in arid desert habitats.  Specifically, the deserts of northern Africa and the Middle East, including the Sahara.

Source:  Wikipedia

Like leopards and cheetahs, they are solitary in nature with males and females only getting together for mating.  They are especially adapted for desert living.  Although they do most of their hunting at night, they have hair between their toes which cushion their pads from the hot sand, as well as giving them better traction.  They are also able to survive for months without water - using only the moisture from their food for liquid.  In fact they tend to stay away from watering holes where predators lie in wait.

Source:  Wikipedia

They can survive in temperatures up to 126 degrees Fahrenheit, but head for a burrow during the hot daytime hours.  They eat lizards, insects, birds, and, of course, rodents, sometimes enlarging and using the burrows of its dinner.

Any kitten is adorable and sand cat babies are no exception.  The average sand cat litter is three.

Source:  Wikipedia

There are six or seven subspecies of sand cat (although one is generally considered a separate species) pretty much defined by the areas in which the cats are found.  This intrepid little cat, one of the smallest wild cats, is one tough customer.

Source:  Wikipedia

Here are some videos:  click here to see sand cat kittens at the Cincinnati Zoo; click here to see a couple of videos of a sand cat in the wild.