What’s cuter than a cat? A kitten, of course! Now if we can only freeze time so those adorable little kitties stay cute as a button… forever. Well, that’s not happening. But, you’d be surprised and delighted to know that there is a cat specie that doesn’t outgrow its unbearably cute kitten-like features. See for yourself! Oh, and, prepare for cuteness overload… Enjoy!
Nope, not kittens. These furry little darlings are the sand cats. And yes, they’re fully grown.
via Distractify
Did you say ‘aww’ already? I knew it.
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The sand cat, also known as the sand dune cat, is the only cat living foremost in true deserts.
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You can find them in the deserts of North Africa and Southwest and Central Asia.
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Sand cats have huge paws covered in tufts of hair that help them to walk on the blisteringly hot desert sands.
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These adorable little fluffs can withstand temperatures between 23 °F and 126 °F. Yes, these kitties are tough.
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They can live off just the water they get from their food for months.
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Unfortunately, due to “sport hunting”, sand cats have been listed as Near Threatened by IUCN since 2002.
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Unbelievable, right? And look, they’re not happy about it.
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Who’d hurt a creature this adorable? It’s beyond me. Seriously.
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Thankfully, there are organizations such as the Big Cat Rescue, who are trying to make sure the sand cats have a safe future.
via Distractify
As much as we all want to adopt them, keep them safe in our homes and shower them with hugs and kisses, it’s best to admire their unbelievable cuteness from afar.
“Sand cats don’t do well as pets as 61% of them only make it to 30 days in captivity before they die, usually due to maternal neglect. They are also really vulnerable to respiratory issues, so taking them out of their natural habitat can cause serious health risks for the little guys.”
mirror.co.uk
The struggle is real though. Believe me, I know.
catphotos.org