Sand Cat Endangered Facts

Sand cats are threatened by habitat loss hunting and collection for the pet trade.

Sand cat endangered facts. Some are killed by humans who consider them a threat to their livestock. Traps and snares intended for other animals such as the fox. Sand Cats are the most difficult to study cat breeds in the wild.

Habitat degradation is the major threat to the sand cat. Sand cat is small animal that can reach 16 to 18 inches in length and 4 to 8 pounds in weight. This impacts the sand cat because it negatively impacts the sand cats prey.

Populations of sand cats in different locations will breed at different times of year. The species went extinct in Israel due to habitat destruction following the territorial exchange between Israel and Jordan in 1994 but a litter of four sand cat kittens was recently born at the Zoological Center of Tel Aviv. Extinct in Wild EW Critically Endangered CR Endangered EN Vulnerable VU Near Threatened NT Least Concern LC Not Evaluated NE Care and Wellness.

Roads cutting through habitat. Zookeepers at the North Carolina Zoo found a unique way to provide exercise for the sand cats. Desertification loss of vegetation and habitat degradation along with persecution in retaliation for killing chicks have put them at risk.

Sand cats leave almost no footprint as they walk across the sand. Humans feral domestic dogs lions jackals wild dogs venomous snakes and birds of prey hunt the sand cat. Vulnerable arid ecosystems are being rapidly degraded by human settlement and activity especially livestock grazing Allan and Warren 1993 Al-Sharhan et al.

The sand cat is the only wild cat that is not threatened with loss of habitat since it is found in the desert. The major threat to the Sand Cat being endangered is habitat degeneration. They occupy areas in the desert that has small shrubs and receive rainfall less than 20mm a year.