Female Sand Cat

7/27/00 – 12/8/2015

Arrived at Big Cat Rescue  10/23/00

 

Pat Quillen of S.O.S. Care sent five Sand Cats to Big Cat Rescue on October 23, 2000. They were born to Pebbles and Papoose who were the offspring of wild caught Sand Cats sent here during Desert Storm for their protection. Most of the known origin Sand Cats in the U.S. are from these imported Founders who produced well at S.O.S. Care.

They have been sent here as genetic back up and will not be bred at Big Cat Rescue unless their offspring with cats unrelated to this group can be returned to the wild. We will not breed for life in cages.

Sand cats are small desert dwelling cats native to northern Africa and the Middle East.

They are frequent victims of the illegal pet trade and during the Gulf War their livelihood and habitats were greatly affected. In an effort to preserve the species, the Saudi government sent eight of these cats to S.O.S. Care, a California-based international cat-conservation organization.

Genie and four litter mates, descendants of the original group, were sent to Big Cat Rescue as a genetic back-up in case of disaster at S.O.S. Care. Genie lives in a large enclosure with thick foliage.

She is quite shy and the plants in her Cat.a.tat provide lots of spaces for her to conceal herself.

Genie also loves to sleep inside her elevated dens, which are merely window flower boxes, that are hung on the walls of her enclosure. Keepers can tell when she is in one of these dens because her tail will be peeking out over the top of the pot.

In her old age Genie became a very finicky eater, so she was fed 2-3 times a day, but when she stopped eating she was brought into the hospital for diagnostics and closer, more intensive care. Nothing could reverse the ravages of time, and she was the oldest sandcat we ever knew. Genie was euthanized after suffering several seizures, to put her out of her misery.

This video is about Genie’s friend Canyon the Sand Cat

More Cute Sandcat Videos

MORE Pages about & Photos of Genie, the tiny Sand cat:

* Today at Big Cat Rescue – October 3, 2014 – Genie goes to the vet.  There are a LOT of photos on this page. (nothing gross).  There is a really cool photo of the bottom of Genie’s tiny paw so you can see how it is covered with hair and how it compars in size to the end of a human finger.  Check it out:

Genie the Sandcat is rushed to the vet when her keepers note that she is acting weird.

Genie Sandcat was sedated in a glass box used for domestic cats.

This was to make sedation easier on her since she is only 3.3 pounds and 14 years old.

Dr. Wynn keeps a close eye on her vitals.

The monitors are just all over the place, so she has to rely on feel, sound and instincts.

For such an old and tiny cat, Genie Sandcat has some fearsome teeth!

The tiniest mask straps are too big, so Carole holds the gas mask in place.

Sandcats are the softest of the exotic cat species.

No spinal issues and her lungs don’t look terrible, but she has a case of bronchitis.

This is good news, because Genie Sandcat is given a long lasting antibiotic shot and has a good chance at recovery.

Dr. Wynn gives her fluids, steroids and antibiotics to help tiny little Genie fight off her symptoms.

Genie Sandcat’s paw is the size of the tip of Jamie Veronica’s finger.

* Today at Big Cat Rescue – October 2, 2014 – more of photos of the above: https://bigcatrescue.org/now-big-cat-rescue-oct-2-2014/

* Walkabout Video – May 3rd, 2014 – Some rare video of Nico the Geoffroy Cat, and Diablo the hybrid, and extremely rare footage of Genie the Sandcat.  King Tut the hybrid chows down on raw meat: https://bigcatrescue.org/now-big-cat-rescue-may-3-2014/

* Happy Sand Cats – Get new sand – https://bigcatrescue.org/happy-sand-cats/

* Today at Big Cat Rescue – January 13th – Lots of phots of the cats including a cute one of Genie and a funny one of Pharaoh: https://bigcatrescue.org/today-at-big-cat-rescue-jan-13/

* Today at Big Cat Rescue – April 25th – LOTS of photos of he various cats including a cute one of Genie: https://bigcatrescue.org/today-at-big-cat-rescue-apr-25-where-are-the-tigers-in-the-united-states/

* Today at Big Cat Rescue – June 30th – Genie the sand cat peeks out of one of her many hidey-holes: https://bigcatrescue.org/today-at-big-cat-rescue-june-30/

* Today at Big Cat Rescue – Download a FREE iBook or PDF book filled with photos of Canyon & Genie Sand cats: https://www.BigCatRescue.org/books/

* Today at Big Cat Rescue August 9th – Genie gets her nails clipped: https://bigcatrescue.org/today-at-big-cat-rescue-aug-9/

* More Sand Cat Videos – https://bigcatrescue.org/sand-cat-videos/

* Today at Big Cat Rescue – February 27, 2013 – Genie & Canyon top 10% in age – https://bigcatrescue.org/today-at-big-cat-rescue-feb-27-2013/

Tributes to Genie Sandcat

Becky Gagliardo
Mar 5, 2016
Baby girl of my heart Genie, I already miss you so much, you had the heart of a queen, now you are free and in no pain, run wild my baby girl.

More Memorials at https://bigcatrescue.org/category/memorials/