Why is the Pallas's cat round?

Why Is the Pallas's Cat Round? The Answer Is "Fur," "Feet," and "Head"

The reason the Pallas's cat looks round can be explained by three parts of its body: long and dense fur, short legs, and a flat head and low ears.

The key point is this. The body of the Pallas's cat is almost the same size as a house cat. According to researchers, "It's about the size of a house cat, but its short legs and thick fur make it look round." The real reason for its roundness is the fur, not the body shape.

Why Does the Pallas's Cat's Fur Make It Look Round?

The fur of the Pallas's cat is said to be the densest among cats that live in temperate regions. According to an article by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), about 9,000 hairs grow per square centimeter.

The fur on the belly is about twice as long as that on the back or sides. The long belly fur hides the base of the legs, making the legs look short even when the cat is standing. This is a major reason why the Pallas's cat looks "round" or "without legs."

Fur changes with the seasons.

• Winter: Long, dense, and turns a pale color. Looks like it has frost on it
• Spring: Fur sheds and changes. Often turns a reddish color
• Summer: Short and dark

In other words, the same individual looks roundest in winter. In spring, when the fur sheds and changes, it looks smaller.

Why Are the Pallas's Cat's Feet Short?

The Pallas's cat has short legs and short claws, which are distinctive features. This point is clearly mentioned in the explanation from the Nagoya City (Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens).

Short legs are suited for approaching prey with a low posture. The Pallas's cat does not chase prey by running, but instead slowly moves through rocky areas and then pounces. The short legs that allow the body to stay close to the ground are well-suited for this hunting style.

According to researchers, the Pallas's cat does not live in areas where snow is more than 15 to 20 cm deep. In the Zabaykalsky Krai of Russia, the northernmost distribution is where snow is 16 to 17 cm deep. The relationship between short legs and deep snow is not mentioned in the sources, so we will only present the facts here.

Why Is the Pallas's Cat's Head Flat?

The Pallas's cat has a broad and flat head. Its ears are not on top of the head but are set low and to the sides.

This shape is thought to be for hiding in open areas while hunting. When only the eyes are peeking out from under rocks, the ears are not visible, making it hard to spot. A flat head makes the body shape smoother, making it look even rounder.

Why Is the Pallas's Cat Said to "Move in a Square Way"?

The Pallas's cat is sometimes said to "move in a square way" or "look like a robot" in zoos. Looking at the movement recorded by researchers, the reason becomes clear.

The basic hunting style of the Pallas's cat is to "creep up" slowly. It moves very slowly through rocky areas, stops, and then moves again. When it is still, it looks like a small stone. The movement of moving and stopping is carried out by the round body with the feet hidden in fur, so it looks "square" to human eyes.

Another reason is the short legs. Because the legs are short and hidden under the body, the movement of the legs is not visible when it walks. The round body moves smoothly and then suddenly stops. This is the real reason for the "square" appearance.

Is the Pallas's Cat Round Because It Is Fat?

Some people think the Pallas's cat is round because it is fat. Half of this is true. According to a WWF article, the reason for its roundness is both dense fur and a thick layer of fat, both of which protect the body from cold.

However, the actual weight is not much different from that of a house cat. In field surveys, the average weight is about 4 kg, and even at the end of summer, when it is fattest, it is about 5.3 kg. There are also records of male cats losing over 1 kg in 14 days during the breeding season in early spring. The thin, shedding appearance in spring looks like a different animal altogether. The weight details are introduced in more detail in Pallas's Cat Size.

The Round Body of the Pallas's Cat Camouflages It in Rocks

The roundness of the Pallas's cat's body is also a shape that helps it hide. The fur color ranges from silver-gray, reddish-gray, to dark gray, and one individual may change through all these colors in a year.

The round body has a faint black stripe. When crouching in a rocky area, it looks like a small stone. According to the researchers' notes, "When still, the Pallas's cat looks like a small stone." The white belly also plays a role. The white fur cancels out the shadow on the belly, making the body shape less visible to birds of prey like hawks and eagles flying overhead.

The Round Body of the Pallas's Cat Is an Adaptation to Cold

The Pallas's cat lives in cold, dry highlands. According to researchers, in the Dauria region of Russia, the temperature difference in a year can exceed 100°C. In the northern part of the Himalayas in India, temperatures can drop to -30°C in winter.

The thick fur is like a blanket that protects against the cold. The thick tail also helps. According to a WWF article, the tail is used to wrap around the body for warmth, and the cat sits on the tail to avoid putting its feet on the cold ground.

The body of the Pallas's cat is shaped to adapt to cold, hunting in open areas, and avoiding detection by birds of prey from above. Being round is not for cuteness, but for survival.

The Pupils Are Also Round

The Pallas's cat also has round pupils. While many small cats, like house cats, have vertically slit pupils, the Pallas's cat can open and close its pupils in a round shape, like humans.

According to researchers, round pupils are a characteristic seen in animals that hunt during the day and those that live in open areas. Information about the eyes is introduced in more detail in Pallas's Cat Eyes and Pupils, and information about the tail is introduced in Pallas's Cat Tail.

Sources

• CATnews Special Issue 13 "Current Status and Conservation Strategies of the Pallas's Cat" (2019, PICA and IUCN Cat Specialist Group)
• IUCN Cat Specialist Group: Species Description of the Pallas's Cat
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund): Meet the Pallas's Cat, a Wild Feline That Doesn't Meow (Fall 2026 Edition)
• Nagoya City: A Pallas's Cat Baby Was Born at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (June 2025)
• Saitama Children's Zoo: Pallas's Cat