It seems that observers think that the Pallas’s cat is mean, angry and aggressive (aka Pallas cat). And the reason is because of the misleading facial expression of this wild cat species which is about the size of a domestic cat. This 2-4 kg cat looks much larger than they really are because their fur is so thick and long. You will see photographs of them looking mean and grumpy and you will see photographs when they look more normal.
But they do have rather strange facial anatomy which contributes to this grumpy appearance. And it is probably fair to say that their faces are more expressive than the domestic cat. Just looking at the photograph above tells us that. You don’t get such differences in expression in a domestic cat.
This small wild cat species “has a broad head with a low forehead and a face that appears flattened, like that of a pug or Pekinese dog”. Those are the words of Fiona Sunquist in her book (with her husband Mel), Wild Cats of the World. They go on to say that the “skull of the manul [the scientific name for this cat] differs markedly from those of other small felids”. This I think is another hint as to why people think the Pallas’s cat is angry or mean.
It is, I believe, a misconception. This wild cat is no angrier or meaner than any other wild cat species. People do tend to anthropomorphise cat faces and the Pallas’s cat does have a face which is very easy to anthropomorphise because it has a hint of a grumpy old man about it.
Their coat is fantastic camouflage in the habitat in which they live (rocky outcrops) and “even knowing the places where a cat is hiding, it is very difficult to find” according to a couple of scientists who observed them in the wild, VG Heppner and AA Sluski. And they say that when approached or “frightened by a pursuer it sits, lies on his back, or often turns to attack fiercely defending itself”. Nothing really unusual there. In the first instance it appears to be trying to hide and then when that doesn’t work it defends itself fiercely but then again, all wild cats do exactly the same thing.
In fact, in captivity they have been reported to be “quite friendly” according to Mel and Fiona Sunquist. They refer to another scientist, RI Pocock, and his book On Pallas’s Cat (1907) in which he states “The manul is markedly different in both behaviour and appearance from the majority of the specimens of the genus Felis kept in captivity. [They show] no fear or desire to hide from spectators”.
There you have it; the Pallas’s cat is no more mean, angry or aggressive than any other wild cat species. In fact, they are probably slightly more friendly than is generally the case. But expect all wild cats to be pretty aggressive in the presence of people if they have not been socialised to them. Other ‘friendlier’ wild cats are the cheetah, margay and Andean Mountain cat to name three which come to mind.
Below are some articles on a similar topic 😊. I have probably repeated myself.
