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- Fishing Cat
Fishing Cat
Carnivora, Felidae
Prionailurus viverrinus
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Unlike most cats, the Fishing Cat is a good swimmer. It is very good at catching fish. Unfortunately, the ponds and swamps where it likes to live are threatened and its numbers are decreasing.
Body length: 57-85cm
Tail length: 20-32cm
Weight: 5.5-8kg
(Source: Doubutsu Daihyakka* Heibonsha) (*Encyclopedia of Animals)
The Fishing Cat lives near rivers and streams in southern and southeastern Asia.
The Fishing Cat eats fish, crabs, and prawns that it catches in ponds and swamps. It sometimes catches mice on land too.
Unusually for a cat, the Fishing Cat cannot retract its claws. Scientists do not understand why it cannot do this. Due to its shy nature, not a lot is known about this animal.
Find out more about the Fishing Cat!
A cat that likes fishing! Surely not?
The Fishing Cat lives in southern and southeastern Asia. It is quite similar to the housecat, but is slightly larger and if you look carefully, you will notice that it has a wild-looking face. Above everything else, it is notable for its ability to catch fish — something that other cats cannot do. To catch fish, the Fishing Cat reaches into the water with its front paws from the bank or sometimes even leaps into the river. It has webbed toes that help make it a strong swimmer.
Polluted ponds and swamps
As the Fishing Cat eats fish, it needs waterways and swamps to survive. However, its habitat is being damaged by wastewater from houses and farms built nearby. Some ponds have no more fish because people have caught them all. Some people think that the number of Fishing Cats has more than halved over the past 18 years.
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