The cute sandy cats in a zoo in North Carolina Haven a deadly secret.
Despite their small size and appearance that is comparable to a domestic cat, these caty cats are considered the second deadliest cat in the world.
A family of five sand cats is a popular attraction in the Zoo of North Carolina. Although they look cute and cuddly, they do not look like the domestic cats in our houses.
The fierce creatures earned their reputation because of their high murder percentage, hunting by skulking close to the ground and using a sharp hearing feeling to detect prey.
Sand cats usually feed on rodents, birds, spiders, insects and are fearless snake hunters – including hunting toxic Vipers, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo.
With their big eyes and ears on top of a small frame – they weigh in just four to eight pounds as adults – the cats are one of the smallest feline species.
Sand cats are rarely seen in the wild, because of their lonely nature and remote environments.
They are native to the deserts of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Asia. They are usually nocturnal in nature and hunt at night to prevent the desert heat.
Despite their small size and appearance that is comparable to a domestic cat, the caty cats are considered the second deadliest cat in the world
A family of five sand cats is a popular attraction in the North Carolina Zoo
They are the only cats who live exclusively in desert environments and quickly adapt to extreme hot and cold temperatures.
Sand cats prefer a very dry habitat and can get enough moisture from their prey. They are sandy beings, inhabiting dry plains and rocky valleys, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo.
Their fur is usually sandy colored or a gray -brown, and they tend to escape from extreme temperatures by digging burrows.
They tend to have stripes on their legs and two or three rings and a black point on their tail, which can stretch 11 to 14 inches compared to their 18-to-23-inch body height.
The cats, which have been difficult to study, can see in human care for up to 13 years.
The triplets of born in the North Carolina Zoo, to mother Sahara and Father Cosmo, are now two years old and will soon continue to other zoos.
They are currently separated by gender, largely because of their lonely lifestyle.
The small but deadly cat is only second place for the Zwartvoetkat, which was crowned the most deadly.
Sand cats are native to the deserts of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Asia
Sand cats usually feed on rodents, birds, spiders, insects and are fearless snake hunters – including hunting toxic Vipers
Sand cats are only second of the black foot cat (photo), which has been crowned the most deadly
Black foot cats look like Tabby Cats, but get their name for having black or dark brown soles or pads in their legs.
The equally cute creatures are expected to successfully capture 60 percent of the time, according to Amanda Collins, vice-program leader for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Black-Footed Cat Consortium.
Zwartvoet cats are carnivores, hunting rodents, birds, reptiles, insects and spiders.
The number of black foot cats in the wild is decreasing despite their impressive hunting skills, and the species was mentioned as vulnerable – only one step for threatened – by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource.
