The Pallas's cat is a small wild cat that lives across the steppes and semi-deserts of Central Asia, in cold dry areas at elevations of 450–5,000 m. With gray or reddish-tinged fur, low-set ears, a flat forehead, and short legs, it adopts a crouched posture to avoid detection by prey. It primarily eats pikas and rodents and hunts by ambushing from burrows. Solitary and occupying a wide home range, mating occurs in winter and births take place in spring. Although habitat loss and other factors affect its numbers, it is currently assessed as Near Threatened.