Internet-famous Pallas's cat passes away at 13
Remembering Zelenogorsk, father of 35 kittens and adorable feline web icon
By Poch Eulalia
REST IN PEACE Zelenogorsk went viral in 2022 for placing his paws on his tail for warmth.
Zelenogorsk, a Pallas's cat residing in Russia's Novosibirsk Zoo, has crossed the rainbow bridge at the age of 13. It's more than twice the usual age of his species' life expectancy. He is the father of over 35 kittens, having paired with seven other cats. Zelenogorsk first caught the Internet's attention after a YouTube video published on the Pallas’s cat activist group, Manulization (Pallas's Cats) channel, went viral. Currently, the video of him warming his paws on his tail has over 16.9 million views.
Born in the wild within the Republic of Tuva, Zelenogorsk got his name from his first residence at the Zelenogorsk Zoo in the Krasnoyarsk region. His name translates to "green mountain." Eventually, he was moved to Novosibirsk Zoo in 2014. It is unknown who his parents were.
Pallas's cats are wild cats known for their long, dense fur. Locally, they are known as manul. They are considered predators, often targeting smaller mammals. Most Pallas's cats in the wild live approximately up to six to nine years, whereas in captivity, they can live up to 11 to 12 years.