Meet-the-manul: Pazi
The manul that started it all
Hi, I’m Pazi (the human). And for my first Manul Monday newsletter, it only feels right to highlight the manul who inspired it all — Pazi (the cat). For the record, I pronounce it PAW-zee, although other pronunciations are welcome.
It is from Pazi that I take my pseudonym, and have crafted my online identity. He’s the reason I started this journey — traveling to see manuls, photographing them, and sharing their stories. There’s a lot to say about how he sparked all of this, but for now, I want to introduce the manul himself, especially for those who may not know him yet.
Pazi was born on April 26th, 2020 at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to parents Salkhi and Kaz. He was an only kitten, which is unusual for a species that typically has between 3-6 kittens in a litter.
Life at Potter Park Zoo
Potter Park Zoo has been home for Pazi ever since 2022 when their previous manul, Olaf, was moved to Calgary Zoo as a breeding partner for a female there. Pazi is an active, fit, and charismatic little manul — all signs of excellent care. As long as the weather isn’t too hot, he starts his mornings making the rounds — searching for food, patrolling his enclosure for (imaginary) threats, and getting some exercise in. Like any self-respecting cat, he follows this up with a midday snooze (and often a second one in the late afternoon).
But in the colder months, especially in fall and winter, Pazi has a particular routine — watching the big cats. He’ll sit at a high vantage point in his enclosure staring out to his much larger neighbors:
❄️ 🐆 Taza, the snow leopard
🐅 Vik, the Amur tiger
🦁 Kota, the African lion
And then, he’ll honk.
Yes, honk — a deep, goose-like vocalization that some manuls make. No one knows exactly why they do this, but my best guess? It’s a territorial call, a warning to all the big predators that this is his turf. And Pazi, despite being one-tenth their size, is not to be trifled with.
At first glance, many zoo visitors mistake Pazi for a house cat — he’s surprisingly small, even for a manul. Whether it’s genetics, diet, or both, he’s petite compared to most manuls I’ve seen. But size isn’t everything — he’s a master of manul behaviors. He parks his paws right on top of his tail in cold weather (to retain body temperature most easily lost through the toe beans). He honks like a goose. And he chirps — just like a house cat.
“Chirping” or “chattering” is a rapid jaw movement, sometimes accompanied by a stuttering “ekekek” sound. Its purpose is debated. Some believe it’s done out of frustration, mimicry to attract birds, or as a predatory response resembling a killing bite. But in Pazi’s case? He only seems to chirp when he hears people talking, particularly children. He either grossly overestimates his size, and considers them potential prey — or he’s just annoyed by the noise. (Relatable, buddy)
Despite his small stature, he commands respect. His keepers have even joked that they’re more afraid of him than they are of the big cats. He’s fast, and can be quite ferocious. And when dinner time rolls around? All bets are off. The moment he catches sight of keepers coming with his food, he goes ballistic.
Pazi has favorite spots that change with the seasons — high perches, baskets, and, yes, even a little wooden palace. Which, as you may have guessed contributed to the play on words that inspired my account name.
He's small, he’s fierce, he honks at tigers, and he’s the reason I started this journey. There’s so much more I could say about Pazi, but I hope this gives you a glimpse into the life of the scrungy little legend.
If you’re a Michigan resident, or ever passing through Mid Michigan, do yourself a favor and visit Pazi. And, if you haven’t already, read here about why I’m starting this newsletter.