October 11, 2011 The Cat That Time Forgot
 

http://cellar.org/2011/manul cat pal... pallus 16.jpg
Image credit: muzina_shanghai

This is a Manul or Pallas's Cat, one of two modern cats to evolve about 12,000,000 years ago.
The other cat, Martelli's, is extinct.

Even though it looks larger than a typical domestic cat, it really isn't. It is about the same length, but it is stockier and has thicker fur, which makes it look bigger than an average cat.

It's pretty much a loner and lives in very isolated country on the Asian Steppes, which has been the main reason for its survival. It gets to live just as it has for the past 12 million years or so.

http://cellar.org/2011/manul cat pal...t pallus 1.jpg
Image credit: Tambako the Jaguar

More images and interesting info at The Ark in Space.

The Manul cat is trying to hypnotise me.
Perhaps these are not the cats I am looking for.

Round pupils?

Is it me or is that different? They certainly are striking looking.

the cat in the second pic looks like he might talk to you.

Domestic cats have vertical pupils that let in more light and are an adaptation to hunting mostly at twilight and dawn. Round pupils would indicate a day hunter which is interesting.

Domestic cat with fully dilated vertical pupils
Adapted to bite-and-run nipple attacks

Major. Fucking. WANT.

Wait - everyone wants the extinct cat?

NOW?!

[killjoy mode]Am I the only one who thinks the serious "boteh" that's going on is a bit suspicious? Aren't these just too well photographed to be really elusive wild animals? [/killjoy mode]

Zoo what if they are?


oops.

From The Ark in Space

[tech nazi] It's Bokeh, and I thought it was obvious that these were zoo animals. Also the effect you are noticing isn't Bokeh, it is either a zoom filter effect or an actual zoom, but I suspect it is a filter becasue of how perfect it is. [/tech nazi

What he said.