Chinese Mountain Cat

The Chinese mountain cat is a broad, sturdy felid with relatively short legs and a tail about 40 percent of its body length. Its coat changes from light gray in winter to brown in summer, with dark-gray stripes on the sides, legs, and tail. The tail ends in black, and dark-brown tufts mark the ears. Exceptionally large auditory bullae enhance its ability to detect prey moving underground. (Animal Diversity Web)

Endemic to China, this cat inhabits alpine meadow, steppe grassland, mountain scrub, and high-elevation conifer-forest edges at approximately 2,500–5,000 m. Despite the older name “Chinese desert cat,” it is not considered a desert animal. It is solitary, nocturnal or crepuscular, and rests in shallow rock crevices or abandoned burrows. Pikas, zokors, other rodents, pheasants, and smaller birds form its diet. Females bear two to four kittens. (Animal Diversity Web)