Adaptations

Pallas cats have low-set ears that subtly lay on their flat heads. This helps them to hunt for prey without showing too much of their head when there isn't much cover or on ledges 

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Coat color ranges from a light speckled grey to a reddish brown color depending on what region the Pallas cat is from. With a thick coat and a longer, darker second coat under, the species is able to shield itself from the harsh cold in the mountains and high plains. The "well furred tail can be wrapped around the body like a warm muff," (wildcatconservation.org). The tails usually have 5 or 6 black rings around and their faces have small black spots and lines.  

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Unlike most cats, Pallas cats have stalky bodies that help them maneuver the rocks and fields. Although they are short they have very muscular legs that allow them to hunt in bursts and stay low to avoid being prey. 

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Their eyes are more specialized in order to hunt efficiently. They have big and wide eyes just like owls do. Pupils on this species are circular instead of a slanted shape. These cats have a "well-developed nictitating membrane (third eye) may afford protection against both cold winds and the regular dust storms which arise in their parts of the range," (wildcatconservation.org). 

Photo below: CatSG: Pallas's cat