By Rob Preece


This foul-tempered cat was in no mood to smile at the photographer when it looked into the camera lens.

With its wide face and long whiskers, the snarling Pallas cat looks a spitting image of children's favourite cartoon feline Bagpuss.

The amazing image was captured by photographer Roy McPeak while he was visiting the Highland Wildlife Centre, near Inverness, Scotland.

What big eyes you have! The foul-tempered Pallas cat snarls into the camera lens

It grimaced at the camera for a few seconds before turning around and skulking away.

Mr McPeak, 41, from from Portrush, Northern Ireland: 'He was just standing there looking angry before he started snaring right at me.

'I couldn't believe it when I looked back at the image.

'Normally when you shoot cats they just sit there on all fours.

Spot the difference: The Pallas cat resembles children's cartoon cat Bagpuss

'I'm not really sure why it was snarling, I suppose it is a wild cat - but I certainly wouldn't want to get too close to it.'

About the size of a domestic cat, the Pallas cats are found mainly in the central Asian grassland regions of Mongolia, China and the Tibetan Plateau.

The cats are classified as 'near-threatened' species due to hunting, prey base decline and habitat degradation.


source:dailymail