Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium is excited to announce the birth of a Pallas’ cat at the Great Plains Zoo (GPZ) campus.

The male kitten was born in late July to seven-year-old mom Salkhi and six-year-old dad Kaz. This kitten is the second offspring for both parents, who came to GPZ on a recommendation from the Pallas’ Cat Species Survival Program. (Older brother Pazi, born in 2020, now lives at Michigan’s Potter Park Zoo.)

Palls’ cats are considered Near Threatened by IUCN. 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.

Pallas’ cats have been off exhibit at GPZ since the birth, giving mom and baby the necessary space and peace to bond and navigate their crucial first weeks together. In the wild, Pallas’ cats are solitary, and male cats are not involved in the rearing of their offspring, so Kaz has temporarily moved to a behind-the-scenes habitat.

The GPZ Veterinary and Animal Care teams monitor the kitten via den cam and regular checkups, and kitten’s health has been stable. He is starting to groom himself and play with his tail – as well as his mom’s tail and face.

Salkhi and the kitten now have 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. However, it could be possible that mom will carry him outside with her – or he might wander out on his own.

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. 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.

Guests will have the best chance of catching a glimpse of the kitten by being quiet, calm, and patient near the Pallas’ cat habitat. We also encourage the public to keep an eye on GPZ’s social media accounts for updates as the kitten grows.