On the world’s tallest mountain, scientists recently stumbled upon something both extraordinary and irresistibly cute — rare wild cats are calling Mount Everest home.
The elusive Pallas’s cat, also known as the manul, had gone undetected on Everest until 2019. Researchers confirmed that at least two of them are living along the mountain’s Southern Flank.
For conservationists, the discovery is a breakthrough. For everyone else, it’s pure delight.
Roughly the size of a house cat, Pallas’s cats look like plush toys brought to life. With short legs, wide faces, and thick, fluffy coats, they appear round and oversized — but much of that bulk is just fur, perfectly adapted to keep them warm in freezing alpine conditions.
Agile climbers, they’re at home among rocky cliffs and crevices, making Mount Everest an ideal habitat.
Despite their cartoonish looks, these cats are true wild animals — fierce, solitary, and certainly not suited for life as pets. Still, photos of them alone are enough to spread endless joy across the internet.
“It is phenomenal to discover proof of this rare and remarkable species at the top of the world,” said Dr. Tracie Seimon of Wildlife Conservation Society’s Zoological Health Program.
Researchers now hope to learn how many Pallas’s cats are living on Everest and to develop strategies to protect them.
For now, the discovery has revealed a hidden side of the world’s highest peak — one where mysterious, fluffy little cats thrive in the shadows of the summit.
