Zoo Welcomes Kittens From One of the World's Oldest Cat Species

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Five Pallas's cat kittens, a feline species believed to be among the world's oldest, were born in May at Kobe Animal Kingdom, a zoo in Hyogo Prefecture.

As of June this year, 26 Pallas's cats were kept at facilities belonging to the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums, making them a rare species in Japan.

Keepers are carefully monitoring the kittens' development and hoping they "grow up healthy and strong." The kittens are scheduled to make their public debut on July 21.

*Pallas's cat kittens, now named and growing well, ahead of their public debut in June. (Courtesy of Kobe Animal Kingdom)*

Ancient Cats from Central Asia

Pallas's cats are believed to have existed for around 6 million years and are native mainly to Central Asia. They are known for their long, dense fur and distinctive, deliberate movements while hunting. Because they are vulnerable to infectious diseases, they are considered difficult to keep and breed.

According to Kobe Animal Kingdom, the five kittens were born on May 12. The four males and one female were given names related to the sun. They are currently being kept in an enclosure closed to visitors, where they have been seen actively interacting with their mother.

The kittens have been gradually introduced to minced meat as they transition to solid food. They weighed between 120 and 180 grams (4.2 and 6.3 ounces) each at birth, but by the end of June, all five had grown to more than 750 grams (1.7 pounds).