'World's grumpiest cat' arrives at Edinburgh Zoo as part of breeding program

A new Pallas’s cat – known online as the world’s grumpiest cat – has arrived at Edinburgh Zoo.

The new arrival, named Duchess, will be living with the zoo’s male Pallas’s cat Akiko and keepers hope she will produce kittens as part of the international breeding program for the species.

Chloe Fyfe, a zoo keeper at Edinburgh Zoo, said: “Duchess has been settling in well and exploring her habitat. She is living up to her name – she’s very prim and proper. Akiko will have to work hard to impress her when they are introduced, but he is up to the task. She has a lovely personality and complements him perfectly. Fingers crossed for kittens in the not-too-distant future.”

Pallas’s cats are known online for their perceived grumpy demeanour. Duchess is the latest arrival at Edinburgh Zoo | RZSS

The cats – or manuls – have become well-known on the internet for their grumpy faces. The cranky appearance is shaped by natural adaptations for survival on the steppes. Their flat heads and low-set ears help them remain hidden as they stalk prey, and their round pupils add to the frowning look that has made them so recognisable online.

Chloe Fyfe said: “The grumpy cat phenomenon has been fantastic. It’s made Akiko a real visitor favourite, and Duchess will quickly join those ranks. The growing interest in the species is invaluable, as it gives us a great opportunity to celebrate these remarkable animals and raise awareness of the challenges they face in the wild.”

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Pallas’s cats face various threats across their natural range in the wild from habitat loss and degradation through agricultural and infrastructure expansion, loss of prey and predation by domestic dogs.

Their secretive nature and the remoteness of their habitat also make them difficult to study, and they are amongst the least known wild cat species in the world. It is estimated that there are less than 60,000 mature Pallas’s cats left in the wild.

RZSS has managed the breeding programme for the species for over 15 years. In that time, it has established the global conservation project the Pallas's cat International Conservation Alliance (PICA), alongside partners Nordens Ark and Snow Leopard Trust. Dedicated to protecting Pallas’s cats on a global scale, the project aims to enhance conservation efforts for the species through capacity building, research, awareness raising and strategic planning.