The Manul: Ancient Wild Cat With a Human Face and Viral Fame

August 06, 2025

The Manul: Ancient Wild Cat With a Human Face and Viral Fame

Among nature’s unforgettable faces, one feline stands out: the Pallas’s cat. Also known as the manul. With their seemingly grumpy expression and striking resemblance to a human pout, this wild cat has earned viral fame. But behind the memes lies one of the oldest feline species on Earth, with a lineage stretching back nearly 10 million years!!

🏔️ Ancient Feline of the Mountains

The name “manul” comes from Mongolian, loosely meaning “little mountain cat.” First described by German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas, this rare feline roams the rocky steppes and deserts of South Asia. They share some features of domestic cats:

The size of a Siamese
A flat face like a Persian
The thick, dense fur resembles that of the Norwegian Forest Cat.

🎯 Masters of Camouflage

While manuls are predatory species as cats in general are, they’re also prey in the wild. Their short legs are not equipped for chasing or running, so they use clever tactics: stillness and camouflage. They could be mistaken for statues. And when they move, they move like a slow-motion robot dance. Additionally, their frosty-grey fur blends into both rocky summer landscapes and snowy winter scenes. They “disappear” into nature.

Furthermore, their ears are tucked low along the sides of their face, unlike the upright ears of domestic cats. This adaptation lets them hide effortlessly behind rocks and helps them pick up sounds across the vast, open land where they live.

While they may look like house cats, manuls have subtle differences that make them uniquely wild:

Their pupils are always round, like ours, giving them a steady, wide view of the world.
They prefer solitude, often choosing to stay apart even from other manuls.

⚠️ Not a Pet — And Never Should Be

Despite their charm, manuls are not suited for domestic life. They’re:

Sensitive to humidity and bacteria common to human environments
Highly territorial and solitary
Easily stressed by captivity
Even experienced zookeepers treat them with caution — more like lions than lap cats. Sadly, their population is dwindling due to habitat destruction and illegal trafficking.

Thanks to documentaries by BBC America and others, awareness of these mystical felines is growing. (Side note: the first time I heard “Pallas’s cat,” I misheard it as “Palace’s cat” — which made me wonder: would the royals treasure such majestic creatures?)

Their allure goes far beyond a grumpy face. They are ancient, elusive, and unapologetically wild — proof that nature still holds secrets waiting to be respected, not domesticated.