Sand Cat Habitat Needs

Goodman and Helmy 1986 Primary Diet.

Sand cat habitat needs. It prefers areas of sparse vegetation mixed with sandy and rocky areas which supports rodent and small bird prey. They are found in very arid habitats with little to no vegetation. And in parts of central Asia.

Prey capture is facilitated by the sand cats highly sensitive ears which are large and triangular and capable of detecting noises from animals both above and below the surface of the sand. With its sandy to light grey fur it is well camouflaged in a desert environment. They are considered opportunistic feeders that take what they can find in their barren habitat.

The sand cat also known as the sand dune cat is a small wild cat that inhabits sandy and stony deserts far from water sources. Two populations exist one that is hybridized and another derived from an Israeli population. These felines also prefer a very dry arid habitat with little vegetation as well as flat or rolling terrains.

Sand cats prefer a very dry arid habitat with little vegetation for which they are well adapted. Prey capture is facilitated by the sand cats highly sensitive ears which are large and triangular and capable of detecting noises from animals both above and below the surface of the sand. Conditions are extreme in the desert and temperatures can reach 124º F during the day and 31º F at night.

They are found near the patches of sparse vegetation that can support their prey species and the cats have special adaptations to survive in the extreme desert conditions. Its head-and-body length ranges from 3952 cm with a 2331 cm long tail. Sand cats are primarily nocturnal and prefer an arid habitat with little vegetation.

Number of sand cats decreased drastically in the past couple of decades due to habitat loss poaching. The Sand cat hides leftover food in the sand. The smallest cat species in Arabia the sand cat Felis margarita is well adapted to its arid desert habitat obtaining all the water it needs from its food.