Sand Cat: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Wild Cats · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. From the outside its ears look like a pet cat's, but the tube leading inside is about twice as big.
2. Long hairs between its toes make furry cushions that protect its pads on hot sand, and they blur its footprints too.
3. It gets the water it needs from its food. The Toubou people say sand cats visit their camps at night to drink camel milk.
4. It runs with its belly low to the ground and can burst into a sprint of 30 to 40 km per hour.
5. In 2018, several sand cats in the Moroccan Sahara were seen napping in ravens' nests up in acacia trees.

The quiz

1. How big is a sand cat's ear canal compared with a pet cat's?

• Half the size
• Exactly the same
• About twice the size (correct)
• Ten times smaller

The outer ear looks like a pet cat's, but the canal is about twice as big.

2. What do the long hairs between its toes do?

• Protect its pads from hot sand (correct)
• Help it climb smooth walls
• Help it swim
• Keep insects away

The fur cushions shield its foot pads as it walks over hot sand.

3. Where does a sand cat get most of the water it needs?

• From desert flowers
• From morning snow
• From licking rocks
• From its prey (correct)

Its prey gives it the moisture it needs, though it drinks when water is around.

4. How fast can a sand cat sprint?

• 5 to 10 km per hour
• 30 to 40 km per hour (correct)
• 100 to 120 km per hour
• 200 km per hour

It can burst into a sprint of 30 to 40 km per hour.

5. Where were sand cats seen resting in Morocco in 2018?

• In fishing boats
• In ravens' nests in trees (correct)
• On rooftops
• Inside caves by the sea

Several were spotted resting in raven nests built in acacia trees.

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