Chinese mountain cats are yet another small felid species about which virtually nothing is known. There is speculation that they may only be a distinct subspecies of the wide ranging wildcat Felis silvestris. Somewhat larger than the wildcat, these cats have a stocky build and relatively short legs. The coat is fairly long and dense, with abundant underfur. The basic colour is pale grey fawn in winter, somewhat darker brown in summer, and ticked with dark guard hairs. It is somewhat darker on the back, and the underparts are whitish or light whitish grey. Indistinct horizontal stripes appear on the sides and legs. There is a pale reddish brown area below each ear. The ears are fairly pointed, and are tipped with short tufts of hair, about 2 - 2.5 cm long. The backs of the ears are the same dark colour as the back. Paw pads are hair covered, a possible adaptation to walking on unstable, shifting terrain. The tail is fairly long and thick, ending bluntly in a black tip, with several dark rings along its length.

Chinese mountain cats have been reported living in the Datong and Daban mountains around Xining, at elevations ranging from 2,800 - 4,100 m. Preferred habitat for this felid is mountainous areas where cover is available, usually in the form of sparse trees and shrubs. They typically occupy alpine meadows and scrub, although they may occur marginally in deserts. They are most often reported at high elevations near the western borderlands of China and Tibet.

Biomes: mountains, desert

Palearctic: Felis bieti, more commonly known as the Chinese mountain cat, resides most frequently in the north-eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau in China. It has also been seen in Qinghai provice and in the mountains of southern Gansu and northern Sichuan. This species has occasionally been seen in flatter, more desert-like terrain.

Mating season for this species runs from January to March and the litters are usually born in May. An average litter size is 2 - 4 offspring. The age of independence, when the young leaves its mother, is 7 - 8 months.

Chinese mountain cats typically eat rodents, such as mole-rats, pikas, and white-tailed voles. They also have been known to catch birds, including pheasants. In past research, it was discovered that they hunt for mole rats by listening for them as they move through their subterranean tunnels 3 - 5 cm below the surface. Chinese mountain cats then dig the moles out of the ground. These cats have large auditory bullae, large ears, and ear tufts, suggesting that these cats rely greatly on hearing for locating prey.

Chinese mountain cats are predominantly nocturnal, active from dusk to dawn in captivity, and hunting primarily in the early morning and evening in the wild. They rest and tend their young in burrows, typically situated on south-facing slopes. Males and females live separately, and the burrows inhabited by females tend to be deeper and more secure, with only one entrance.

These animals are currently protected in China under their classification as a CITES Appendix II species. The Cat Specialist Group in Beijing recently tried to upgrade them to Category I, which would require permission of national authorities to hunt or trade. Pelts of this felid can be found in markets in Xining although it is unlikely that hunting efforts specifically target the animal. A principle threat to the Chinese mountain cat has been large poisoning campaigns conducted in China against pikas, one of their principal prey species. These campaigns were created "in an attempt to control 'pest' populations of pikas, which are viewed as competitors of domestic livestock for graze." One of the main chemicals used was zinc phosphide until 1978, when it was discontinued because it was found that it also killed carnivores who preyed on the pikas. Control programs that use poisonous chemicals continue throughout much of the desert cat's range and have eliminated pikas from large areas.

Their older common name, Chinese desert cat, is a little misleading as these felids are rarely found in desert areas. Chinese specialists, meeting in Beijing in 1992, suggested that Felis bieti be described as Chinese mountain cats, which is now recognized as their common name. These cats primarily feed on rodents in mountainous areas. They rely on their large auditory bullae to listen for and locate their prey. Little has been documented about this species, however it is known to range up to an altitude of 4,000 m. It has been reported that after chasing one of these felids, a dog came back with attack wounds and bite marks.

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Guggisberg, C. A. W.. Wild Cats Of The World. New York: Taplinger Publishing Co., Inc., 1975