Meet the Zoo: Boris and Natasha, Prospect Park's Newest Pallas's Cats

A new pair of Pallas’s cats have just made their debut at the Prospect Park Zoo.  Since the species was introduced to the zoo three years ago, these fierce little felines, including , have become a visitor favorite—and Boris and Natasha should be no exception.

Pallas’s cats are native to the central Asian steppes of Mongolia and China where they are often hunted for their fur and organs, which are used in traditional medicines. And like many small mammals, they are sometimes caught accidentally in traps set for larger predators.

In 1993, the Wildlife Conservation Society helped establish the Chang Tang Nature Reserve in the northwestern part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It is the second largest protected area on Earth. The reserve provides protection for a unique assemblage of wildlife such as the Tibetan gazelle, wild yak, wolf, snow leopard and, of course, the Pallas’s cat.

One of the reasons visitors love the Pallas’s cat is because it reminds them of their own domestic cat at home, and certainly there are similarities.  However, this wild feline is not directly related to domestic cats.  Pallas’s cats fall into their own unique genus within the felid family - Otocolobus.  When you look closely at these cats, you can see some of their unique characteristics.  The most striking difference is their eyes, which feature perfectly round irises instead of slits like most cats.  They have also adapted to their cold, rocky environment with a super thick and cryptically colored coat.  Their flat heads and side positioned ears allow them to peek over rocks without being seen by prey.

Boris, age 4, and Natasha, age 10, came from the Cincinnati Zoo. Prospect Park Zoo animal keepers have spent some time getting the two animals introduced to each other. The two are getting along well on exhibit, exploring the rocky environment that looks remarkably like their native habitat.  In fact, visitors are often surprised to discover that the cats are right in full view but beautifully camouflaged in the rocks right in front of them.