Fishing Cat
Prionailurus viverrinus
WILD STATUS
Vulnerable, endangered in Thailand and much of their range.
Vulnerable, endangered in Thailand and much of their range.
DISTRIBUTION
This medium-sized cat is found in southwest India, Sri Lanka, countries of the southern Himalayas, Viet Nam, Thailand, Burma, Laos, China and the islands of Sumatra and Java.
SIZE
Males weigh 11-15 kg (24-26 lbs)
Females weigh 6-7 kg (13-15 lbs)
Body length is from 64-86 cm (25”-34”)
Females weigh 6-7 kg (13-15 lbs)
Body length is from 64-86 cm (25”-34”)
REPRODUCTION
Litters of 2-5 kittens are born after a 63 day gestation and are weaned at 6 months and reach adult size at 8.5 months.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
- Fishing cats have partially webbed feet. They have much shorter legs and tails than conventional cats.
- They can swim long distances, both on the water and underwater.
- Fishing Cats have a unique barking method of vocalization. They sound remarkably dog-like.
- In Pakistan, Fishing Cats have been observed catching waterfowl by swimming up to them while fully submerged and seizing their legs from underneath.
- They also have been seen scavenging livestock carcasses as well as other large animals killed by tigers.
- Wetland destruction is the major threat to this species survival as well as human settlement, pollution, excessive hunting, wood-cutting and clearance of coastal mangrove swamp systems.
- Known severely threatened habitats include the Karnataka Coast of SW India and the deltas of the Irrawaddy, Indus, Mekong, and the Red Rivers.
HABITAT RANGE
ANIMAL FACT SHEET
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