This kitten can fit in a teacup — but it’s ‘ferocious’ in the wild, NC Zoo says
A kitten born in North Carolina may be tiny and cute, but it packs a punch in the wild.
The N.C. Zoo on Thursday announced it had recently welcomed the birth of a sand cat, which they say is “small enough to fit into a teacup.”
The animal has wiry whiskers and a coat of fur that make it resemble a snuggly household pet, photos show.
But be warned: “they are wild, ferocious animals that should never be kept as pets,” wildlife officials said in a news release.
Sand cats are found in their native Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, where they scour harsh deserts to prey on venomous snakes and other critters, the zoo says. The cats hunt during the nighttime, making it rare for humans to see them in their natural habitats.
The N.C. Zoo, which welcomed its new sand cat on Aug. 10, says it’s one of few wildlife facilities to care for the species.
The animal is expected to weigh up to 8 pounds, making it among the smallest types of felines, according to wildlife officials. The zoo, which didn’t release the name or sex of the newly arrived sand cat, says the baby’s parents are mom Najma and dad Cosmo.
It’s the first kitten for both sand cats.
“The mother and kitten are in a quiet, non-public viewing area of the Zoo and have minimal contact with staff and keepers,” the zoo said. “They live in the Desert habitat, which is currently closed to the public because of Covid-19 restrictions.”
Other parts of the zoo are open, and the facility has an advanced ticketing requirement and other protocols to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, its website said as of Thursday.
This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 4:05 PM with the headline "This kitten can fit in a teacup — but it’s ‘ferocious’ in the wild, NC Zoo says."
