Generally they are black on the underside, white on the tail, with stripes running from their heads down their backs and on their cheeks.

[8] Due to their small stomachs, they must eat often, and have clawed paws that help them dig around in the dirt in pursuit of their next meal.

[3][9] The striped polecat is a solitary creature, often only associating with other members of its species in small family groups or for the purpose of breeding.

[10] Most often, striped polecats are found in habitats with large ungulate populations, because of the lower level of shrubs where these grazers occur.

The spray, released by anal stink glands, temporarily blinds their adversaries and irritates the mucous membranes, resulting in an intense burning sensation.

High-pitched screams have been observed as signifying situations of high aggression or accompanying the spraying of anal emissions.

Young polecats often have a specific set of calls and signals, used in adolescence, either signifying distress or joy depending on if the mother is absent or present.