One of the 14 cats on WAnimals
Mammals · Carnivora · Felidae
Fishing Cat
Prionailurus viverrinus
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term.
The fishing cat is a robust, short-legged cat with an olive-grey coat marked with rows of spots, specialised in hunting in water. It lives in the wetlands of South and South-East Asia, where it catches fish, crabs, molluscs, frogs and rodents. It swims well and dives, and has been seen tapping the surface with a paw to imitate the movement of an insect and draw fish in. Wetland drainage and the conversion of mangroves into fish farms have driven it into decline.
Weight
5.1 kg – 16 kg
Size
57 cm – 78 cm
Life expectancy
12 years
