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Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul), also called the manul, is a small wild cat having a broad but patchy distribution in the grasslands and montane steppe of Central Asia. The species is negatively affected by habitat degradation, prey base decline, and hunting, and has therefore been classified as Near Threatened by IUCN since 2002.
The cats are plump and short-legged, albeit no larger than a domestic cat. The ears are short and placed far apart creating a flat-headed appearance. Dense, long fur emphasizes the stout body shape. Even the eyes are unusual among cats, always maintaining a round shape. Manuls therefore, lack the characteristic slotted “cat-eyes”.
