Sand Cat Habitat Needs

There are 4 subspecies of sand cat that can be found in northern parts of Africa and south-eastern parts of Asia.

Sand cat habitat needs. It is essential that you work with the local people to make them more aware of the asset the sand cat that they have on their doorstep and to protect it. The saharan sand cat is patchily distributed in desert areas of morocco algeria niger and egypt. With its sandy to light grey fur it is well camouflaged in a desert environment.

Masters of evasion with coats the same color as the desert sands. Two populations exist one that is hybridized and another derived from an Israeli population. Sand cats are primarily nocturnal and prefer an arid habitat with little vegetation.

They are found in very arid habitats with little to no vegetation. When temps become too extreme the sand cat will retreat to cooler burrows. However some diurnal activity in Arabia was recorded especially in winter when conditions were cooler.

Africas Sahara desert throughout the Arabian peninsula. It prefers areas of sparse vegetation mixed with sandy and rocky areas which supports rodent and small bird prey. The main factor to the increased extinction is habitat destruction due to industrialization Townsend et al.

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. The habitat is sandy and rocky with short sparse vegetation and is also inhabited by other desert animals such as vipers and. If it gets too hot outside the sand cat will retreat to burrows.

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. Prey provide the sand cat with the fluids they need to live in places where there is little water.