How big is a Pallas's cat? Compare size and weight to a house cat

Viewing the Size of the Pallas's Cat in Numbers

The size of the Pallas's cat varies slightly depending on the source. Here are the values from researchers and zoo explanations.

The key point is: Head-to-tail length is around 50 cm, and weight is around 4 kg. In numbers, it's almost the same as a typical house cat.

Comparing the Size of the Pallas's Cat with a House Cat

When comparing the size of the Pallas's cat with a house cat, it becomes clear that the difference is not in size but in shape. Researchers describe the Pallas's cat as "about the size of a house cat, but with short legs and thick fur."

In other words, the Pallas's cat is not "bigger" than a house cat, but "round and low." Why it looks that way is explained in Why is the Pallas's Cat Round?.

Does the Pallas's Cat Differ in Size Between Males and Females?

The Pallas's cat is only slightly larger in males than females. From field surveys, the head-to-tail length is 49 cm for females and 55 cm for males. The weight is 4 kg on average for females (maximum 5.0 kg) and 4.1 kg on average for males (maximum 5.3 kg).

The difference is about 100 to 300 g, and it's difficult to tell the sex by appearance.

The Weight of the Pallas's Cat Changes with the Seasons

The weight of the Pallas's cat changes greatly throughout the year. In late summer, when prey is abundant and easy to catch, it can reach up to 5.3 kg.

On the other hand, during the breeding season in winter and early spring, males become so focused on chasing females that they neglect eating. Field surveys have recorded a male losing 1,050 g (22% of body weight) in just 14 days. Females also lose weight in winter due to a decrease in prey availability.

The Size of the Pallas's Cat's Tail and Ears

The tail of the Pallas's cat is 21 to 31 cm long, about half the body length. It is covered with thick, long fur, has black ring patterns, and the tip is black. On cold days, the cat wraps its tail around its body or sits on top of it to protect its feet from the cold ground. For more details, see The Pallas's Cat's Tail.

The ears are small and round, located at a low position on the side of the head. Because the head is wide and flat, it appears very large from the front. According to the explanation from Nagoya City (Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens), another characteristic of the Pallas's cat is that it has a different number of teeth and pupil shape compared to other cats.

The Pallas's Cat Walks a Wide Area Despite Its Small Size

Despite its small size, the Pallas's cat uses a very large area (home range). According to researchers, it is a species with a wide home range compared to animals of similar size.

A 4 kg animal is calculated to walk across an area about the size of a square 10 km on each side in Mongolia. The size of the area depends on how scattered the rocky terrain is. If hiding places are far apart, the cat needs to walk more. For more information about the habitat, see The Habitat of the Pallas's Cat.

The Size of the Pallas's Cat and Its Prey

The size of the Pallas's cat is in balance with the size of its prey. According to researchers, the weight of the prey is usually 50 to 300 g. For a 4 kg Pallas's cat, one meal is about 1 to 8% of its body weight.

The main prey is the pika. Since the pika is 2 to 4 times heavier than other small prey, it provides a lot of nutrition in one hunt. Overall, the pika makes up more than half of the Pallas's cat's diet. A WWF article mentions that the cat may eat five mice in a day. For more information about the Pallas's cat's diet, see The Food of the Pallas's Cat.

The Size of the Pallas's Cat's Kittens

According to the explanation from the Smithsonian National Zoo, the kittens of the Pallas's cat are about 13 cm (5 inches) long at birth. Their eyes are closed and open after about three weeks.

The gestation period is 66 to 75 days. In captivity, the average number of kittens born is 3 to 4. They become independent at 4 to 5 months old, and females can start reproducing as early as 10 months old. For more information about the growth of kittens, see The Pallas's Cat's Kittens.

Why the Pallas's Cat Seems Larger Than It Is

When you see the Pallas's cat in a zoo, it often seems larger than the numbers suggest. There are three reasons for this.

1. The fur is long and dense, and it becomes even thicker in winter. The fur on the belly is twice as long as on the back, hiding the base of the legs.
2. The legs are short, and the body is close to the ground. It appears to spread out sideways.
3. The head is flat, and the ears are low. This creates a smooth, rounded body shape.

In other words, half of the Pallas's cat's "size" is its fur. In spring, when the fur sheds and changes, it looks about one size smaller.

Sources

• IUCN Cat Specialist Group: Species Description of the Pallas's Cat
• CATnews Special Issue 13 "Current Status and Conservation Strategy of the Pallas's Cat" (2019, PICA and IUCN Cat Specialist Group)
• Smithsonian National Zoo: Pallas's Cat
• Nagoya City: A Pallas's Cat Baby Was Born at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (June 2025)
• Nagoya City: About the Transfer of the Pallas's Cat at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (May 2026)