Sandcat

Arguably the most attractive feline in Arabia, the Sandcat is also the smallest . Similar in size to the Gordon's wildcat Felis silvestris gordoni, the Sand cat can be easily distinguished by its much paler coloration, disproportionately large ears and broader head. The average body length of an adult is 70 cm, one third of which comprises the tail. There is very little external difference between males and females and both weigh approximately 2 kilograms.

Generally the coat is uniformly sandy brown or golden yellow in colour, finely speckled with black above the shoulders and fairly distinct black barring on the thighs. An ill-defined spinal band extends from the base of the neck to the tail. The head is similar in colour with poorly defined striations; the face is marked with a pronounced reddish strip, which extends from the each eye backwards across the cheeks. The ears are set wide apart and low down on the skull with a distinctive black tip. The chest and belly are white, with two elbow bars on the limbs, which are of medium length.

The Sandcat's paws are larger than that of Felis silvestris, the palms and soles of which are covered by a dense mat of fine black hair to protect the sensitive pads from hot sand and prevent them from sinking into the soft sand. The ears too, are protected by coarse hairs, which prevent sand from entering the ears.

Unlike most other cats the Sand cat digs itself a den, which is used throughout the year. Predominantly nocturnal, it emerges at night to hunt for food, always returning to its den before sunrise to shelter from the harsh desert sun. The diet consists mainly of small rodents, although insects, reptiles and the occasional small bird will also do. When laid flat their low set ears allow them to use all available cover when stalking a potential prey species. Adapted perfectly for life in sandy deserts the Sand Cat hardly ever has to drink obtaining most if not all of the moisture it requires to survive from the food it eats.

Very little is known about their breeding behaviour but given the high summer temperatures experienced in the sandy deserts it is likely that births are timed to coincide with the cooler months. Litter size varies between 2 and 4 and the kittens are born after a gestation period of approximately 2 months.

Gordon's Wildcat

These little cats belong to the genus felis, consisting of all the small cats. Characteristics of small cats include a hairless strip along the front of the nose, a fully ossified hyoid bone in the vocal apparatus to prevent them roaring and claws that can be withdrawn into sheaths when they are not being used. When resting, the front paws are tucked beneath the body by bending at the wrist and the tail is wrapped securely around the body. Big cats at rest place their paws in front of them and extend their tails straight behind them. If you've ever seen cats feeding, you will also note that big cats lie down to feed while the small cats crouch over their food.

The Gordon's Wildcat has several unique features worth mentioning for accurate identification of the species. These features are of particular importance as the species is very closely related to domestic cats and interbreeding is known to occur. The genetic purity of the wildcat in the United Arab Emirates is under severe threat should the feral cat population continue to impinge upon their habitat.

To correctly identify a Gordon's Wildcat from any other tawny grey tabby cat, the following three features must be recognised:

• The backs of their short, pointed ears are rusty brown with a black tip.
• The tail has three distinct black bands around the tip and there are also black bands in the axis of the forelegs.
• The pads of the feet are always covered in fine black hair, probably the most noteworthy feature.

Wildcats occur in semi-desert, on open planes and in more rocky terrain. They do not favour the extensive true desert areas of the Peninsula, which do not have shrubs and rocks for cover. Their home ranges usually have several den sites scattered throughout ensuring that the safety of a burrow is never far away. A male's home range often overlaps that of two to three females, however, contact between the cats will only ever occur during breeding season, which occurs between November and January. Following a gestation period of 55 - 60 days a litter of 2 - 4 kittens is born in one of the underground dens.

Wildcats are almost entirely nocturnal, an adaptation that also prevents excessive loss of water in the dry habitat they occupy. Water needs are met from their own food, which they hunt by creeping along slowly, and silently - finding prey by listening. Rodents, small birds, insects, lizards and snakes make up the main component of their diet. Although a predominantly carnivorous diet is preferred, wildcats will also eat vegetative matter, adapting their diet to what's available.

Highly adaptable, wildcats are now found with increasing regularity in and around human settlements where they are sadly experienced as a menace and are persecuted as feral pests.

Caracal

The word "Caracal" means "black ears" in Turkish and it is this characteristic, together with the long tufts of black hair on the tip of the ears that makes the caracal so distinctly different to other cats. They are a reddish, sandy colour, blending well with the arid desert landscape that comprises their home. Another unique feature is their short stubby tail that looks almost as if it has been amputated half way along its length.

In the United Arab Emirates today, it is almost certain that the Arabian caracal can only be found in the mountains and immediately surrounding areas. As with most desert animals, caracals can survive for long periods without drinking water, obtaining vital fluids from their diet. They are predominantly nocturnal, but will hunt in the cooler early morning and late afternoon hours to catch the scarce and often widely scattered prey consisting of birds, rodents, reptiles and even small antelope. A remarkable jumper, the caracal is known for its ability to catch birds in flight.

The caracal is a solitary animal, only making contact with a mate during breeding when the female is on heat. Their long canine teeth are highly specialized for catching, holding and killing live prey. The teeth of the lower jaw show no adaptation for crushing but are rather used to tear or slice the food into smaller pieces. The food is then swallowed with little chewing, a characteristic that is common among all feline species.

Arabian Leopard

Cheetah

The name originates from the Hindu name: chita

The distribution of the cheetah has been modified greatly over time by man's colonisation of the African continent. Although the cheetah still occurs over most of Africa it is a rare site in the wild and is currently threatened with extinction. Sadly, due to hunting and environmental pressure they have already become extinct in the United Arab Emirates, in fact; documented sightings throughout the Middle East are very low.

Its' distinct small round black spots differentiate this cat from most other spotted cats as they occur singly and not in the more common rosette pattern. Close examination of the long tail will reveal a distinct keel shape, a clever tool that assists with balance and steering during climbing and sprinting.

The cheetah has evolved an anatomy that makes it highly specialized and individual in its method of hunting, thus ensuring the survival of the species in an environment where competition for food is great. Its long spindly legs, together with a highly flexible spine enable the cheetah to take astonishingly long and rapid strides. The claws, when retracted, are not covered by a sheath as seen in other cats but remain exposed providing added traction during acceleration. Anatomical adaptations that ensure the cheetah maintains its legacy as the fastest mammal on land.

Cheetah are diurnal, meaning they are active during the daylight hours, another characteristic that can be considered an adaptation to the high competition experienced in the wild for increasingly limited prey species. Many of the other carnivorous hunters are only active at night leaving the cheetah freedom to hunt alone by day. This does, however, mean that the cheetah is forced to be wise in its methods and hide its prey well.

The relatively small upper canine teeth on the skull with correspondingly small roots on either side of the nasal passages is another adaptation that has evolved for efficient hunting techniques as it allows the cheetah improved air intake whilst maintaining a relentless, suffocating bite on the neck of the prey.

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