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Weight: 7-12 pounds
Head/Body: 22 inches
Tail: 10 inches
Subspecies: 3
The oldest living species of cat,
evolving some 10 million years ago, Pallas' cat is similar to the lynx in
facial structure, with a large, sturdy body and short legs. Its head is
short and broad, with large round eyes and blunt wide-set ears. Its long,
silky coat varies in color from light gray to russet brown, with white
tips to its hairs giving a sparkling, almost iridescent appearance. There
are dark lines on its cheeks, rings on its tail, and its lips, chin, and
throat are white. The Pallas' cat may be found on the rocky plateaus and
river banks of central Asia, where it hunts by night, from the ground, and
seeks small mammals and birds.

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