Desert Sand Cat Facts

During extreme heat the sand cat cools off in a burrow.

Desert sand cat facts. Sand Cat Felis margarita Cats Mammals. A layer of thick fur on the sand cats paws provides protection from the hot desert sand. Large ears radiate heat.

According to the Koran a sand cat was the companion of the prophet Mohammed and his daughter during their trip in the desert. The sand cat is the only true desert living cat. The Sand Cat Felis margarita is a small wild cat that is uniquely adapted to its desert habitat.

Covered with hair its footpads are insulated from the hot sand. Instead they live in dry sandy plains and rocky valleys. The sand cat is a rarely-seen desert cat found in northern Africa and the Middle East.

Like most other desert animals they can survive for long periods of time without drinking. According to records male Sand Cats can travel great distances as long as 31 miles to 62 miles 5 km to 10 km in just one night. Sand cats live exclusively in desert regions.

It lives in temperatures that can be higher than 40C Celsius which is 104F Fahrenheit. Legs are covered with black stripes. Conditions are extreme in the desert and temperatures can reach 124º F during the day and 31º F at night.

They are found in very arid habitats with little to no vegetation. Sand Cat adaptations include very large triangular ears to detect the movement of small prey underground and at a distance. The name caracal was proposed by Georges Buffon in 1761 who referred to its Turkish name Karrah-kulak or Kara-coulac meaning cat with black ears.