Felis bieti
Chinese desert cat

Felis bieti, more commonly known as the Chinese desert cat, resides most frequently in the north-eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau in China. It has also been seen in Qinghai provice and in the mountains of southern Gansu and northern Sichuan. This species has occasionally been seen in flatter, more desert-like terrain (Cat Specialist Group of IUCN 1996).

Chinese desert cats have been reported living in the Datong and Daban mountains around Xining, at elevations ranging from 2,800 m to 4,100 m. Preferred habitat for this felid is mountainous areas where cover is available, usually in the form of sparse trees and shrubs. They typically occupy alpine meadows and scrub, although they may occur marginally in deserts. They are most often reported at high elevations near the western borderlands of China and Tibet (Alderton 1993; Cat Specialist Group of IUCN 1996).

Chinese desert cats are fairly large in size compared to the common domestic cat. Head and body length ranges from 68 cm to 84 cm and tail length ranges from 29 cm to 35 cm. They have a stocky build with relatively short legs. The coat is yellowish gray in winter, and darker brown in summer. Distinctive markings consist of horizontal stripes on the sides of the body and legs, and distinct brown streaks across each cheek. The tail is also striped with 5-6 dark gray bands and has a black tip. The ears are yellowish brown on the outside; the tips specked with short hairs measuring 2 cm in length. This felid has hairy tufts growing between the pads of its feet (Cat Specialist Group of IUCN 1996; Guggisberg 1975; Lumpkin and Seidensticker 1991).

Chinese desert cats are primarily nocturnal. They are reported to be active from dusk till dawn while in captivity and in the early morning and evening in the wild. They are not social animals, and have not been shown to travel in packs. Males and females live separately. Burrows inhabited by females are deeper and more secure than those of males, and have only one entrance. Nothing is known of male's burrows (Cat Specialist Group of IUCN 1996; Guggisberg 1975).

Chinese desert cats typically eat rodents, such as mole-rats, pikas, and white-tailed voles. They also have been known to catch birds, including pheasants. In past research, it was discovered that they hunt for mole rats by listening for them as they move through their subterranean tunnels 3-5 cm below the surface. Chinese desert cats then dig the moles out of the ground. These cats have large auditory bullae, large ears, and ear tufts, suggesting that these cats rely greatly on hearing for locating prey (Alderton 1993; Cat Specialist Group of IUCN 1996).

None known.

It is likely that these cats manage populations of small rodents in the areas they inhabit.

These animals are currently protected in China under their classification as a CITES Appendix II species. The Cat Specialist Group in Beijing recently tried to upgrade them to Category I, which would require permission of national authorities to hunt or trade. Pelts of this felid can be found in markets in Xining although it is unlikely that hunting efforts specifically target the animal. A principle threat to the Chinese desert cat has been large poisoning campaigns conducted in China against pikas, one of their principal prey species. These campaigns were created "in an attempt to control 'pest' populations of pikas, which are viewed as competitors of domestic livestock for graze." One of the main chemicals used was zinc phosphide until 1978, when it was discontinued because it was found that it also killed carnivores who preyed on the pikas. Control programs that use poisonous chemicals continue throughout much of the desert cat's range and have eliminated pikas from large areas (Cat Specialist Group of IUCN 1996).

Despite their common name, Chinese desert cats are rarely found in desert areas. Chinese specialists, meeting in Beijing in 1992, suggested that Felis bieti be described as Chinese mountain cats, their other common name. These cats primarily feed on rodents in mountainous areas. They rely on their large auditory bullae to listen for and locate their prey. Little has been documented about this species, however it is known to range up to an altitude of 4,000 m. It has been reported that after chasing one of these felids, a dog came back with attack wounds and bite marks (Alderton 1993; Cat Specialist Group of IUCN 1996).