They are classified as mammals because they share the following characteristics:
* Give birth to live young: Red pandas are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
* Have mammary glands: Female red pandas produce milk to nourish their young.
* Have fur: Red pandas have a thick, reddish-brown fur coat that helps insulate them in their cold, mountainous habitats.
* Warm-blooded: Red pandas maintain a constant internal body temperature.
* Breathe air: Red pandas have lungs and breathe air.
While red pandas are often called "panda" due to their reddish-brown fur, they are not closely related to giant pandas. They belong to a separate family called Ailuridae, while giant pandas are members of the Ursidae family.