Welcome Cleo
Utah’s Hogle Zoo welcomes 2-year-old sand cat Cleo to the Small Animal Building
Cleo comes to Hogle Zoo from North Carolina Zoo on an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) sand cat Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding recommendation with resident male sand cat, Asim (4).
Meet Cleo
Described as a shy but inquisitive cat, Cleo is settling in and beginning to explore her new habitat in the Small Animal Building. Guests may catch glimpses of her playing, investigating new sights and scents, or napping in a cozy corner.
Howdy, Asim
Cleo will soon be introduced to Asim as part of their breeding recommendation. Introductions begin with “howdys”—a structured process where they can see each other through mesh barriers before having physical contact.
This gradual approach helps ensure both cats are comfortable before fully sharing space. During a howdy, our animal care team monitors their behavior for positive cues that indicate the cats are ready to be introduced.
Fun facts about sand cats
Native to some of the harshest environments on Earth, sand cats are perfectly adapted to life in dry, arid regions. They inhabit three distinct areas of the world:
- Africa’s Sahara Desert (including Algeria, Niger, and Morocco)
- The Arabian Peninsula
- Parts of Central Asia (including Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan)
These small but resilient cats are built for extremes. In their natural habitat, daytime surface temperatures can soar to 124°F (51°C) and drop to near freezing at night. Sand cats avoid these extremes by retreating to burrows during the hottest parts of the day and emerging at night to hunt.
Despite their size, sand cats are fearless hunters. Their diet includes small rodents, birds, reptiles—and even venomous snakes like vipers. Their speed, agility, and impressive hunting instincts make them one of the desert’s most formidable predators.
Sand cat conservation
While classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), sand cat populations face growing threats like habitat degradation, climate change, and human activity. As skilled hunters, sand cats prey on small mammals, birds, reptiles, and even venomous snakes—but declines in prey populations further threaten their survival.
Protecting these elusive desert dwellers depends on preserving their harsh but delicate habitats and reducing human-wildlife conflict across their range.
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