Hi, Mr. Nature here, with a cat you probably have never heard of–the manul, or Pallas’ Cat (named for a Mr. Pallas who first described the species for science). These cats, although they’re rare, are found all over Asia, from Iran to Mongolia. The ones in this video are in a zoo in New York.
Okay, who wants to go to the zoo and pay to see a cat? But these cats are unusual. They may look fat, but they’re not: that’s just their build. And they need a lot of fur because it gets kind of cold in Tibet in the winter.
We are told by the zookeeper that they wouldn’t make good pets. Well, I don’t know how many people have ever tried to have a pet manul. It would make a very nice package for your lap. Almost all animals respond to kindness, gentleness, and affection, and cats are intelligent and adaptable. Not that I’m urging you to acquire a member of an endangered species for a pet! Our animal shelters are full of nice ordinary cats who really need you.
But I do find these Pallas cats pleasing to look at, their fur cries out to be petted, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they turn up in North Obann, one of these days.