Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Timofey – one of the most charismatic inhabitants Moscow Zoo— all visitors know. He is an Internet star and a favorite of children and adults. Videos with him get thousands of views on the zoo’s social networks, and recently a song was dedicated to him. At the same time, the Pallas’s cat is not only a recognizable animal, but also a rare one. It is listed in the Red Book of Russia and the International Red Book. This small wild cat, on average no larger than a domestic cat, is distinguished by bright yellow eyes, lush sideburns and long white whiskers. The Pallas’s thick fur and short paws give it a squat and heavy appearance.
On International Pallas’s Cat Day, celebrated on April 23, we tell you how the most famous Moscow cat spends his days and how he surprises visitors.
House made of natural materials
You can see a Pallas’s cat already at the entrance to the capital’s zoo. This animal is a living symbol of the Moscow Zoo. It is depicted on the emblem above the main gate.
“It is no coincidence that the Pallas’s cat appeared on the zoo’s emblem. The fact is that the Moscow Zoo was one of the first in the world to achieve regular breeding of this feline species in captivity. Since 1975, more than 140 cubs have been born here. Since 1987, the Pallas’s cat began to decorate the emblem, then in 2013 the image changed, and in 2019 it returned,” says Mikhail Bragin, head of the Mammals Department of the Moscow Zoo.
Timofey is not a native Muscovite. He was born in June 2020 at the Novosibirsk Zoo and moved to the capital in 2021. The Pallas’s cat settled near the Bolshoi Presnensky Pond next to pandas and a large eagle – the golden eagle. You can get to him by turning left from the main entrance.
We stop at a spacious outdoor enclosure with thick glass sides. In the center is a clearing with stumps and logs. A little further away is a play complex – one of the Pallas’s favorite places. On the far wall of the outdoor enclosure are fixed wooden ledges, shelves and ladders. The cat can run, jump and climb on them. Timofey also has a place to hide. Under the ladders, a pipe is built into the wall, imitating a cave.
“The Pallas’s cat is a sneaking, lurking animal. In the wild, it lives for about five years, in a zoo – up to 12. Such animals live in the steppes and rocky deserts of Central Asia, feed on rodents, small birds and reptiles. To catch prey, they hide and then make dexterous throws. In addition, Pallas’s cats have many enemies. Among them are birds of prey, wolves and even snow leopards. Therefore, Pallas’s cats lead a secretive lifestyle, hiding among stones, in abandoned burrows and crevices. Timofey also likes to hide and spends most of the day where few people see him,” says Mikhail Bragin.
The Pallas’s cat can be alone in the inner enclosure. This is a room with wooden paneling, hidden from prying eyes. There the Pallas’s cat has a litter box – like a real cat – and several houses. The animal rests and sleeps in them. A massive door leads from the inner enclosure to the street one. From behind it, the large wild cat cautiously watches passers-by.
“The Pallas’s cat is mostly active in the morning and at dusk. In warm weather, it likes to spend time in the sun. In winter, it is kept warm by its thick fur coat – the fluffiest among cats. Thanks to its grey-black color with red, it also helps the cat camouflage itself well,” adds the mos.ru source.
Having seen the Pallas’s cat, the zoo visitors come closer to the fence. Timofey moves his ears, pushes off and jumps out from behind the door. He climbs up the ladder and dives into the pipe. The cat moves so quickly that only the most attentive people manage to notice his presence in the outdoor enclosure. It seems as if he is playing hide-and-seek with the guests. But the reason for such activity is different: the Pallas’s cat is getting ready for dinner. The neighboring door opens, and one of the zoo employees enters the enclosure, carrying a paper bag in his hands.
Jumping, jogging and spring diet
Keepers, veterinarians and technologists of the capital’s zoo monitor Timofey’s nutrition and health. A special menu and feeding schedule are developed for the Pallas’s cat. The number of portions depends on the time of year.
“The Pallas’s cat stands out among other cats in a number of ways: it does not make a characteristic meow, has round pupils (which is unusual for small wild cats), and is actively preparing for winter. This process is called fattening, or fattening. To help Timofey gain weight, we feed him twice a day in the fall, and once a day in the spring so that he can lose the weight he has gained. The Pallas’s cat eats whole carcasses of quails and small rodents, and in the summer it can sometimes enjoy grass growing on the lawn,” notes Mikhail Bragin.
Feeding the Pallas’s cat is an unusual process. The specialists do not simply bring him food, but imitate hunting conditions. The prey is hidden on ledges and ladders, behind stumps and logs, and even hung, creating the impression that it is moving. Timofey’s food is often brought in a craft bag. The rustling of paper and the smell of food do not leave the cat indifferent, and he eagerly begins to unpack. Zoo staff have chosen this method of feeding today.
The keeper puts the bag on the ground and goes out, closing the door. Having sensed prey, the manul runs from ladder to ladder, hiding behind the ledges. Then he jumps to the very top of the game complex and slowly creeps down, calculating the trajectory of the jump. But the bag is far away – it is standing a little further than the center of the clearing, closer to the group of visitors delighted by such a hunt. The wild cat does not dare to run up to it and again runs away behind the open door of the inner enclosure.
“The Pallas’s cat does not have a specific feeding time, it is always different, so that it does not wait for food to be brought. It should be unexpected, like in nature. At the same time, we regularly check its health. For example, we monitor its weight. In winter, thanks to fattening, Timofey weighs about six kilograms, and in the warm season – about four. Now he is actively losing weight. We do not conduct training with him for this, he copes well on his own with the help of games and imitation of hunting,” the mos.ru interlocutor emphasizes.
A healthy wild cat does not require serious care. It sharpens its claws using logs and the wooden paneling of the inner enclosure. In the wild, it can brush off excess fur on rock ledges, and in the zoo, this function is performed by juniper growing in the clearing.
“Timofey is a cat with character and great charisma. He is completely self-confident: he is not afraid of attention and often demonstrates feline playfulness to visitors. The main thing is to behave calmly and not to frighten the cat with sudden actions or loud sounds. Then he will definitely show up,” adds Mikhail Bragin.
And so it happens. Without waiting for Timofey to appear, the visitors move on to other enclosures. And a few minutes later, noticing that no one is watching him, the manul looks out from behind the door again.
You can now see how the main symbol of the capital’s zoo lives online. To do this, visit the mos.ru portal video broadcast available. The live broadcast is hosted byfrom the enclosures of other zoo inhabitants.
Pandas, Pallas’s cats and capybaras: broadcasts from the Moscow Zoo enclosures have been viewed more than 820 thousand timesMore broadcasts from the Moscow Zoo are now available on mos.ruThe “City of Tasks” project invites you to meet the animals of the Moscow Zoo and get points
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