Sand Cat Kitten Reactions Pile into Twitter (NEW PHOTOS)

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Friday, August 12, 2011

This week’s debut of the Sand cat kitten born in an Israeli zoo has Twitter users expressing everything from their love of cats to how much they hope the species is safe.

“Must have a Sand cat. What is a Sand cat? I don’t even care. I want one,” wrote Twitter user Peter.

“Impossibly cute Sand kittens,” stated David.

“Doesn’t this rare Sand cat take your breath away? Nearly extinct breed,” said Old Cats Rule.

Connie wrote, “Daily dose of #cute! We are all ooo’s & aww’s here!”

The kitten, named Renana meaning “joy” or “song” in Hebrew, was born three weeks ago near Tel Aviv. Renana is the first Sand cat born at the Ramat Gan Zoological center.

With pale yellow fur, the Felis margarita, or Sand cat, lives in burrows in areas that are even too hot for the African wildcat. The Sand cat no longer exists in the wild in Israel, and is endangered in other habitats including the Sahara and deserts of Iran and Pakistan. The species is a 12 million year old breed that is unable to be domesticated.

Sand cats average three kittens born per litter after 59 to 66 days of gestation, typically around April or May, and some cats may give birth to two litters per year. Kittens weight 1.4 to 2.8 ounces at birth, and rapidly develop to full independence by the end of their first year. The cats reach sexual maturity shortly thereafter.

Zookeepers at the Ramat Gan where Renana was born hope that the kitten will help remove her species from the risk of extinction upon joining Israel’s Sand Cat Breeding Program.

Hunting Sand cats is illegal in Algeria and Israel, as well as six others countries in Africa and the Middle East, but no legal protection is offered to cats in Egypt, Mali, Morocco, or Saudi Arabia.

There are 26 Sand cats living in captivity in the United States, and two Sand cat kittens were born at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in 2009.