The only felid that is primarily found in genuine deserts, the sand cat, doesn’t appear to be a proficient
murderer, but that is exactly what it is. The sand cat (Felis margarita harrisoni) is widely distributed, if
rather incongruously, in the deserts of northern Africa, southwest Asia, and Central Asia. People only
occasionally get to witness these lovely creatures in the wild because they are so elusive.
However, if you want to see them, get out into the desert when it’s between 11 and 28 °C; the sand cat
prefers this temperature range. These felines also favor flat or rolling terrains that are very dry, arid
habitats with little flora. The sand cat will hibernate if it’s too hot outside.
The incredible creature that never drinks, emits odors, and leaves no paw prints.
They can survive in extremely high and extremely cold temperatures thanks to their densely furred feet
and exceptional resilience. Long hairs between its toes grow to form a cushion of fur over the foot pads
that insulate it from the extremely hot sand. They occasionally create burrows where they can hide from
harsh weather. They can readily survive in regions distant from water, and even though they
occasionally sip water, they are well-hydrated by their food. The sand cat typically preys on tiny rodents,
but it will also occasionally hunt hares, birds, spiders, insects, and reptiles. Additionally, the sand cat will
undoubtedly encounter poisonous snakes out here in the sweltering desert; fortunately, the cat is a
skilled snake killer.
No matter how much it may appear to be a house cat, this cat is an experienced hunter. The sand cat
has cartoonishly adorable eyes, but when it sees a mouse-sized prey, it rapidly flattens itself, creeps
through the sand, and snaps it up in a jiffy.
Sand cats poses threat to human life?
People inquire as to the risk posed by sand cats to people. You must respond with a sensible solution. If
we assume that “hazardous to humans” refers to the possibility that a sand cat may hurt humans, then
the answer to the question in the title must be “yes.” But it depends on how you communicate. A desert
cat kept in captivity is shown in a video being enticed with catnip. The sand cat reacts by turning around.
The exchange is courteous.
Consider the kind of violence a feral or poorly socialized domestic cat could inflict on a person if you
attempted to pick him up against his will. You would probably get badly bit and scratched. I would argue
that wrestling a feral cat is unsafe because the animal would hurt you. The sand cat might be
comparable, in my opinion. There are no reports of sand cats attacking humans! However, they are
solitary cats. That implies that they will unavoidably be wary of people and on the defensive.
