Scientific Name - Felis Margarita The Sand Cat is a small cat, weighing between 5 and 6 pounds, with short legs and a very broad head with low-set ears and full cheeks.  The soles of its feet are protected from hot sands by having a thick mat of fur.  Its coat is a plain yellowish-brown to greyish-brown, slightly darker towards its spine and lighter underneath. It was first discovered in the Sahara Desert in 1856.  The Sand Cat may be found in the semi-desert regions of Northern Africa and the Middle East, where it hunts by night and twilight, from the ground, and seeks small rodents and reptiles.
		The Sand Cat appears to be one of the least-threatened feline species.  It is a known chicken thief around Lake Chad in Northern Africa, but the people living there will not harm this small cat because of their religious beliefs.
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