A German naturalist named it after himself in 1776. He mistook it for a Persian cat ancestor
Its scientific name means "ugly-eared" in Greek, but it's actually very cute
It looks bigger and heavier than it is because of its fluffy and dense coat. It's the same size and weight as a domestic cat
It has round pupils instead of slits, which makes it look even more adorable.
It lives in cold and dry places in central Asia, from Iran to China. It likes rocky steppes and grasslands up to 15,000 feet high.
It has the longest and thickest fur of any cat. Its fur is twice as long on its belly and tail as on its back and sides
It's a loner and a territorial cat. Both males and females mark their own areas of about two to three miles
It has a very short mating season. Females are ready to mate for only 26 to 42 hours, which is shorter than most cats
It's an ambush hunter. It hides behind short plants and rocks, or waits at burrow entrances, and jumps on its prey when they come out
It's not a good runner. Its compact body slows it down. When chased, it runs to boulders or small cracks for safety.