Save the Sand Cats!
By Katherine Yang
On the Look Out
Credits on the bottom of flyer
Sleeping Kitty
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Wide Awake
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Save the Sand Cats!
The sand cat is a unique, furry mammal that is found in deserts. It lives is burrows and is a carnivore. Interestingly, it doesn't need to drink water. It gets the water it needs from the food it eats. These sand cats are nocturnal and can make special sounds too. But, sadly, these small animals are in the danger of being extinct. Please read on and learn more about these cute, furry mammals. But most importantly, please SAVE THEM! The link to the works cited and credits are at the bottom of this flyer. (BBC) (BCR) (CSG) (Red List)
Description
Sand cats are mammals. They are found in deserts and have thick furry feet to protect itself from the hot sandy terrain it lives in. Its fur is pale yellow to gray, and the tail in ringed. There are also rings around its legs. Sand cats are nocturnal and can cover long distances in one night! These creatures only live up to 13 years old in captivity though. It makes meowing, barking, hissing, growling, spitting, and purring noises to help communicate. Its typical body length is 42-57 cm. Their tail is 26-35 cm, and their weight is 2-3 kg. (BBC) (BCR) (CSG) (Red List)
Food Chain
The sand cat is a predator and carnivore. It usually eats gerbils, birds, arthropods, snakes, and small reptiles. The sand cat sometimes eats chickens too. Their food is found mostly underground and is sparsely distributed. The sand cats have to dig to get their food out. Their big ears help them hear very far to help locate the food. It also doesn't need liquid water to survive. It gets the moisture from the animals it eats. It may seem like these cats have no predators, but the sand cats are prey of snakes and, sadly, humans. (BCR)
Habitat
These furry mammals are distributed from North Africa to South-West Asia. Sand cats live in deserts and are adopted to arid terrain. They are good diggers which help make the burrows in which they live in. They also dig to find prey underground. Because of their ability to dig and the need to get food, which are located underground, these cats prefer sandy areas of deserts so that they can dig more easily. (BBC) (CSG)
Adaptation
Their furry feet and and yellow to gray coating help the sand cats blend into their surroundings. The furry feet help protect them from the heat of the sand that they walk on. They hiss, growl, scream, and spit when they're angry or scared. The sand cats bury large prey that they have killed, and will uncover them again to eat it later. They do not need to drink water. The sand cats just maintain the moisture they need from their prey. Sand cats are nocturnal and every night before they leave their burrow, they scout. They stand at guard at the opening of the burrow for 15 minutes before leaving. They do the same when they re-enter the burrow. (BBC) (BC) (BCR) (CSG) (Red List)
Endangerment
Sadly, these cute cats are in the danger of being extinct. They face death because of snakes, but it's mostly because of us humans. Some are killed by farmers who kill them for attacking their chickens. Also, sand cats are sometimes captured and collected for pet trade, or even just hunted for pure enjoyment. Sand cats are also killed on accident by traps set by hunters. The Gulf War may have had some effect on the sand cat population. These cats have been raised in zoos, but zookeepers have not been giving them the proper care that they need. But some countries banned the hunting of sand cats, placed such as Algeria, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Niger, and Pakistan. Though these countries and many more forbid the hunting of sand cats, many others still do not protect them. (BBC) (BCR) (CSG) (Red List)
Credits and More!
Photo Credits:
Credits to Photo Pin and Flickr
Uploaded by Yinghai. (Photo of On the Look Out)
Uploaded by abeams. (Photo of Wide Awake)
Uploaded by JJay. (Photo of Sleeping Kitty)
Uploaded by Yinghai. (Photo on the second row)
Video Credits:
Credits to YouTube and TubeChop
Big Cat Rescue. (First Video)
uzoouk. (Second Video)
Works Cited Link: