Great Plains Zoo Celebrates the Birth of a Fluffy Pallas' Cat

This is exciting news for the Great Plains Zoo, which is celebrating the birth of a fluffy Pallas' Cat—and he's a real cutie.

On September 13, 2024, Great Plains Zoo shared an update on their Pallas' cat, and it's a good one. Take a look!

The little kitten was born in July, and for the past few weeks, the mama and kitten have been bonding outside the public eye.

Related: Brookfield Zoo Captures New Pallas Cat's Cute Behaviors with GoPro Camera

According to the zoo's statement, the Great Plains Zoo has given the new mom and her kitten access to their public exhibit.

"In the near-term, the kitten will likely choose to spend most of his time indoors until he grows larger and gains his confidence," the zoo's statement continued.

"However, it could be possible that mom will carry him outside with her – or he might wander out on his own."

The male kitten is the baby of 7-year-old Salkhi and 6-year-old dad, Kaz. This new baby is their second, having welcomed a male cat named Pazi in 2020.

According to the zoo, "Over the next several weeks, we can expect to see the kitten slowly exploring his outdoor environment. The kitten is observing his mom and learning behaviors from her all the time."

They've witnessed that Salkhi is "an excellent mother and very protective. If she feels like it’s too loud—or if hiding him is necessary for any reason—she’ll carry him inside."

The adorable kitten looks very fluffy, which makes sense since Pallas' Cats are known for their thick fur. And he's starting to venture out a little bit.

"While the kitten is still shy, he’s starting to explore and play," the zoo shared.

In the comments on the social share, people were very excited about the cute cat.

One wrote, "Such a precious little one."

Another shared, "Awwww, I've been wondering where she was!"

Someone else wrote, "Oh, what a cutie."

One Facebook user added, "That's why they weren't out when I was there. How exciting!!!!"

Interesting Facts About Pallas' Cats

Pallas' Cats are small, and they only look as big as they do because their fur is really thick, according to Big Cat Rescue . This is helpful since they spend a lot of time lying on the frozen ground and on snow.

When the females have babies, they can have up to 8 kittens after a pregnancy that lasts around 66 to 75 days. Those babies are typically born in April or May.

"Palls’ cats are considered Near Threatened by IUCN," the Great Plains Zoo writes. "Their native habitat is in Central Asia, and they prefer to live in dry, rocky areas. Pallas’ cats are naturally reclusive, and they rely on their camouflage to hunt and to protect themselves from predators."

According to Big Cat Rescue, people are the biggest threats to their population numbers because they hunt these cats for their fur and "the poisoning of its primary food source."

So, with a new baby in the world, it's cause for celebration, and we can't wait to see more of this cutie.