Earlier this month, Sweden's Parken Zoo welcomed two new Sand Cat kittens. Small and stocky, the Sand Cat's oversized ears help to dissipate heat and detect prey scurrying along the sand, much like the Fennec Fox. Watching the curious kittens exploring their enclosure can't help but make you think of their domestic cousins. Thanks to Mats Ellting for the photos.

Photo Credits: Mats Ellting

Two sand cat kittens were born at the Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort in the United Arab Emirates. The kittens’ birth was a result of an assistive reproductive technique called in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. This marks the first time the procedure was successful in Sand cats. The research project is on-going and includes captive sand cat populations in the United States and Europe and is conducted in collaboration with the University of Illinois and the Cincinnati Zoo.

Sand Cat Kittens in Cincinnati
In January we brought you the birth of two fluffy sand cat kittens at the Cincinnati Zoo. Today we check back in on them thanks to Aileenie Photography. Sand cats are near-threatened in the wild although many Middle Eastern countries have taken steps to prohibit hunting them.

Meet the Cincinnati Zoo's newest little Arabian Sand Cat kittens, who just debuted to the public today. Born on October 29th, the kittens, male "Najah" and female "Fath," currently weigh just 1lb. 12 oz. and 1 lb. 6 oz. respectively.

 Photo credits: Cincinnati Zoo 

The kittens' parents are a specially selected breeding pair from the Al Wabra Reserve in Qatar. Sand cats have fur on their feet to walk on hot sands and dig their own burrows to make nests and avoid the heat of the desert.