Mongolia became the principal exporter in the 1980s, with 9,185 skins exported in 1987 until hunting was prohibited in 1988 and exports essentially ceased. In recent years, Pallas cats have disappeared from much of the Caspian region and from the easternmost parts of its range in China due to over-hunting. Poisoning to control pika populations have taken place on a large scale in parts of the Russian Federation (southwest Transbaikalia, Tuvinskaya, Altai Mountains) where they are considered to be vectors for plague, and in parts of China (Qinghai, Gansu and Inner Mongolia) where they are considered competitors of domestic livestock for grass. As a result, Pallas cats face shortages of prey in some areas as well as suffering threats from secondary poisoning.

The scientific classification of this creature is: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Carnivora, Family: Felidae, Genus: Felis, Species: Felis Manual. Its binomial name is Otocolobus manual. The other name for the Pallas cat is Manual. The word "manual" was borrowed from the Mongolian language. Manual is more preferable to those who live in Russia and other Asiatic countries.

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It is oldest living species of the cat family, evolving some ten million years ago and is similar to the lynx in facial appearance, with a large, sturdy body and short legs. It is roughly the size of a domestic cat with a short, broad head and large, beautiful, round eyes. Its blunt wide-set ears are set low, giving the cat an owl-like appearance. Its long, silky coat varies in color from light gray to russet brown, with white tips to its hairs giving a sparkling, almost iridescent appearance. There are dark lines on its cheek, rings on its tail, and its lips, chin, and throat are white.