# Rare (and scary looking) "Manul Cat" kittens born in Germany - worth a look- trust me **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 11, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754 "2004-06-11T01:38:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/21 "2004-06-11T15:48:29Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Actually your observation is quite astute (see below). I googled up some more info on them. > > …“In addition, unlike most other small or Felis cats, the pupils of Pallas’s cat are round.” I felt like a failure as a cat person for not noticing that, I posted the pics in my LJ and someone else pointed that out to me. As cute and fuzzy as they are, I would not want one for a pet. Wild cats belong in the wild. I can’t understand people wanting to wear their skins either, “my that’s a lovely coat, what is it? Mink? Ermine?” “No, it’s cat.” “Er …” ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/22 "2004-06-11T16:23:40Z")
[Here’s some adult pics in the wild](http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/manul-1.htm) [and some more](http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/26.shtml) [and one more](http://www.felidae.org/PROJECTS/Manul_in_Mongolia/manul_in_mongolia.htm) Those are some thickly pelted cats! [Some believe that most domesticated long haired cat breeds originated from this species](http://encarta.msn.com/media_461522379_761553783_-1_1/Manul.html) I also get the distinct impression, just by their expressions, that they would not make good domestic pets. Growls and yelps? > [@](#): > > Behavior > Otocolobus manul is a solitary nocturnal animal, although it can be active at dusk and early in the morning. During the day it sleeps in rock fissures and small caves. They often den in burrows of other small animals such as marmots, foxes and badgers. Scientists have noted their extraordinary ability to hide within their own habitat. Their markings and coloration allow them to easily blend with their surroundings. > > Otocolobus manul has been observed to be a very poor runner, and instead seeks refuge on boulders or in small crevasses when chased. Few of these animals have been kept in captivity, but those that have are generally inclined to be aggressive and fearless of humans. Otocolobus manul does not typically spit or hiss when approached, but when excited has been observed to yelp and growl. The sound has been described more like the yelp of a small dog rather than the meow of a domestic cat. They have also been observed to purr, similar to a domestic cat. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/23 "2004-06-11T16:39:57Z")
That’s no downstream cat! Those are seriously cute and badass looking at the same time… a cat even a longshoreman could love. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/24 "2004-06-11T16:49:10Z")
Just _looking_ at those pictures made me sneeze! ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/25 "2004-06-11T17:35:00Z")
Kitties! They are so cute! Of course, I think all felines are cute. Big, small - housecats to tigers - love em all! Susan ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/26 "2004-06-11T17:38:42Z")
Well, now we know what Bill Kliban was looking at as his model… ---
**Author:** ![BottledBlondJeanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@BottledBlondJeanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BottledBlondJeanie)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/27 "2004-06-11T17:45:54Z")
The momma cat looks a lot like how I imagined Oy the BillyBumbler from Steven King’s Dark Tower series would look! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/28 "2004-06-11T18:09:15Z")
Can you imagine the damage one of their hairballs would cause as it came crashing down a mountain slope? Furlanche! ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/29 "2004-06-11T18:45:23Z")
Just to make sure everyone knows, I do not truthfully want one of those as a pet. I know that they are wild. It’s just a ‘ **Lissla** faced with adorable animal squealing reaction’. Everyone got that? Good. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/30 "2004-06-11T19:09:34Z")
While those kittens are outstandingly cute, those eyes … man, those eyes are just plain _creepy_. (Shudder) ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/31 "2004-06-11T20:18:01Z")
There’s something just plain weird about their pupils, but the kittens sure are cute nonetheless. I’ve never heard of these guys. ---
**Author:** ![moonstarssun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@moonstarssun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moonstarssun)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/32 "2004-06-11T20:27:49Z")
Now I know what Pixel, our youngest cat is! He’s long haired and stripey, has thick fur, growls, and is a poor runner (he runs in place on the vinyl flooring and runs sideways down the stairs when he gets excited). ---
**Author:** ![Papaveraceae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@Papaveraceae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papaveraceae)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/33 "2004-06-11T23:33:12Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > While those kittens are outstandingly cute, those eyes … man, those eyes are just plain _creepy_. (Shudder) I’m with you on that. I love cats, but those kitties give me the screaming mimi’s. It is the way the eyes are placed in the face, and the round pupils. Eeek. And the look so _angry._ ---
**Author:** ![Papaveraceae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@Papaveraceae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papaveraceae)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754/34 "2004-06-11T23:35:24Z")
_they_ :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-and-scary-looking-manul-cat-kittens-born-in-germany-worth-a-look-trust-me/249754.md?page=1)