A lack of knowledge hinders any assessment of the threats to Felis margarita scheffeli. However it is trapped for its skin and may be persecuted as a pest. There is uncertainty over whether land degradation is a problem or actually is a benefit to the sand cat.
Felis margarita scheffeli is considered as "Lower Risk" sub-category "near threatened" by the IUCN. CITES lists the species as "Appendix 2".