Pallas's cat (manul): status, range, size and diet
A stocky, long-furred cat of Central Asian steppe and rocky highlands with a flat face and low ears, listed as Least Concern.
Also known as Otocolobus manul, manul, steppe cat, Pallas cat
At a glance
| Scientific name | Otocolobus manul |
|---|---|
| Group | Small wild cats |
| Weight | 2-5 kg |
| Length | Head and body about 46-65 cm, tail 21-31 cm |
| Known for | A flat face, low-set round ears and the densest fur of any cat. |
Status
| IUCN Red List category | Least Concern |
|---|---|
| Assessed in | 2020 |
Where it lives
| Range | From the Caucasus and Iran across Central Asia and Mongolia to the Tibetan Plateau, Himalaya and Altai-Sayan region |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Rocky montane grassland and shrubland, scree and ravines, up to about 5,600 m |
| Diet | Pikas and other small rodents, with some birds |
Main threats
- Fragmented habitat
- Poisoning of pikas and other prey
- Hunting and traps
- Herding dogs
- Climate change
About
Pallas's cat, or manul, is a compact, heavily built cat with a thick pale grey coat, a broad flat face and small rounded ears set low on the sides of the head. Its short legs and dense fur make it look larger than it is. The eyes are ringed with white and the pupils contract to small circles instead of vertical slits. The tail is bushy with dark rings.
It is a solitary ambush hunter that relies on rock cover rather than speed. It shelters in crevices and in burrows made by marmots and other animals. It has a third eyelid that helps against wind and dust. Litters can have several kittens, born in spring, and many of them die before they disperse.
Where it lives and what it eats
The manul lives in dry, cold, open country with rocky outcrops. Its range stretches from the Caucasus and Iran through Central Asia and Mongolia to the Tibetan Plateau, the Himalaya and the Altai-Sayan mountains, and China holds about half of it. Records are scattered, not continuous. It avoids deep snow, so it is found where snow stays shallow in winter. The highest records reach more than 5,500 m.
Pikas and small rodents such as gerbils, voles and ground squirrels provide most of its food. It sometimes takes birds and insects.
Threats and conservation
The global rating is Least Concern, based on its wide range, though the species is patchily distributed and not common. In several countries, national lists are more cautious. The most serious pressures include habitat fragmentation from mining, roads and fences, overgrazing and conversion to cropland, and loss of marmots whose burrows it uses for dens. Rodent poisoning programmes remove prey and can poison the cat. Illegal hunting for fur, snares and traps set for other animals, and herding dogs take more. Climate change could affect the cat by altering snow cover and vegetation.
Trade is controlled under CITES Appendix II. In 2026 the species also received its first Green Status of Species assessment, which gave an Indeterminate result.
Cats and people
Pallas's cat has been kept in zoos since the early 1950s, and breeding programmes now exist in many institutions, although kitten deaths have been high and the species is hard to manage in captivity. The manul is a wild animal and unsuitable as a pet. It rarely shows up in places where people live, and most records come from camera traps.
Profile last reviewed November 7, 2026