The kittens were born on 12 May in Kobe’s Chuo Ward. Six cubs were delivered, but one was stillborn. Since then, their mother, Azu, has been steadily raising the remaining five, four males and one female, all of whom are reported to be growing in good health.

Zoo officials said the kittens opened their eyes by the end of May and have since begun developing their baby teeth. As they approach weaning age, their diet now includes minced chicken and horse meat, carefully prepared by keepers.

One of the kittens, which weighed 178 grams at its first measurement, has grown to around 500 grams, roughly matching the size of its siblings. In recent days, the cubs have been observed actively playing together, a positive sign of healthy development.

Pallas’s cats, also known as manuls, are native to the harsh, arid regions stretching from southern Siberia across Central Asia. The species is considered extremely rare in captivity, making successful breeding events uncommon. The name “manul” comes from Mongolian, meaning small wild cat.

The zoo says the kittens’ public debut is expected to draw significant attention, offering visitors a rare opportunity to see one of the planet’s most elusive wild cats up close.