The Manul or Pallas’ Cat
Felis (Otocolobus) manul Pallas

This species takes its alternative name from Peter Simon Pallas, a German naturalist who contributed significantly to the scientific exploration of the Russian Empire.
The manul has fur which is proportionally longer and more dense than all the other species of cats. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has a relatively massive body and short, stout legs. The head is short and broad, with very short, bluntly rounded ears. Set low and wide apart they protrude only slightly from the surrounding fur. These characteristics are indicative of adaptations to the cold.
The eyes are large and set forward in the head, reminiscent of an owl. They have probably evolved like this for hunting by sight. The coat colour is light grey which may vary to yellowish buff and russet. In the adult animals the tips of the hairs are white giving a frosted appearance. Two dark streaks run obliquely across each cheek. Lips, chin and throat are white. Traces of transverse stripes may be present on the back and limbs, and the dark tipped tail is encircled by four rings.
Long classified in the genus Felis, it is believed that Pallas's cat is closely related to F. silvestris. Despite this it has been allocated a unique generic status (Otocolobus) in the recent, controversial, review of Felid taxonomy (C. Wozencraft, A Taxonomy of the Felidae. Cat News 18, 1993, p.24). There are particular cranial features which are reminiscent of the lynxes, which led to this. In addition, unlike most other small or Felis cats, the pupils of Pallas's cat are round.
Three subspecies are described:

The manul is scattered throughout Central Asia, from Transcaucasia and the eastern shoreline of the Caspian Sea through to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, east and central Kazakhstan, and Tibet, to the Altai, Tuva, Mongolia and Sichuan, and south to Iran, Afghanistan and east Ladak. This area comprises, steppes, deserts, rocky plateaus and treeless rocky mountainsides.
O. m. nigripectus is found in the vicinity of Kashmir. During the last glaciation Pallas's cat was found in Europe, and in Ladak they have been seen higher than 4,000 metres.
The map shows the present distribution of Manuls in grey.
The map is based on information in the Wild Cats Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan published by the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group in 1996. See our Books page for more details.

Pallas' cat feeds on mouse hares, pikas (in one study 89% of their prey items were pikas, and 4% insectivores), murines, ground squirrels, and birds.

Solitary and secretive, Manuls den in the burrows of marmots and other burrowing animals. Although they are mainly nocturnal, they have been observed during the day. Male Manuls have been estimated to have home ranges of about four square kilometres.
It has been suggested that the ears of manuls evolved to be small, low set and inconspicuous, to enable them to present a low profile. This would aid stalking in open country with very little cover.
They are known to be able to climb rock faces with ease. Kitchener (1991) reports that they appear to place great emphasis on social contact through body rubbing.

Pallas's cats reproduce in April and May. Captive litters of five and six kittens (more commonly three or four) have been reared, and the gestation period is recorded as 66 days.

Bangjie (1984) states that Pallas's cat is apparently more numerous than the Chinese Desert cat because more furs are sold at market. The annual catch in Sichuan was given at about 100 individuals in 1980. An article in Cat News (11, 1989, p. 20) reports that Mongolia exported 4,356 manul pelts between 1978 and 1988.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) places the manul on Appendix II, allowing strictly regulated trade (Conservation and Legal Status of Wild Cats. Cat News 12, 1990, p. 26.).
The IUCN Red List has the red manul (F. (O.) m. ferrugineous) as Near Threatened but other manuls as Least Concern. (Cat News 23, 1995, p. 21)
The Chinese rationale for considering the manul a protected species is that they consume large quantities of harmful rodents (Bangjie 1984).
Although breeding was reasonably successful, the captive North American population has now died out.
It is possible that in parts of their range manuls could be quite common.