The Red Pandas are the less known type of panda. When you think of pandas your mind goes immediately to the Giant Panda. even though the Red Panda was the first animal to be called panda. Red Pandas are indeed a distant relative of the Giant Panda though scientists believe that they are more closely related to the raccoon. Red Pandas have been called many things including lesser panda, wah, and red cat bear. Red Pandas are slightly larger then a domestic cat with rusty red fur. They have white markings on their faces and long bushy tails.