Fun Facts About the Fishing Cat

Description:

The fishing cat is one cat that contradicts the idea that cats do not like water. They are found frequently in the water catching fish, hence its name (11). The weight of a a male fishing cat is 25 pounds and a female is 15. The length of their body from the head to the tail is 25 to 34 inches. They have large bodies and small legs, broad head and round ears. They are an olive-gray and have black stripes (1). These lines start off very defined near their neck and merge into short streaks or lines. On their underneath they are white and have two dark collars on their throat. Their tail is also short and has several black rings and a black tip (2). Unfortunatly, there are very few of these cats around. According to the International Species Information Service there are 256 worldwide, 68 which are found here in the US (3). Listed on the Red List, which is a list for endangered species, the fishing cat has been listed as endangered with a population trend that is steadily decreasing (12).

Habitat:

The fishing cat is found in areas with lots of vegitation and areas near water such as marshes, mongroves, rivers, wetlands, and streams. It has been recorded that these cats can live at elevations as high as 1800m (1,2). Areas that include these type of living condtitions are southwest India, Sri Lanka, countries in the southern Himalayas, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, China, and the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra (1). It is rare to find these cats in the Indus Valley of Pakistan and in Kerala in southewest India (2).

Diet:

The fishing cat like many other types of cats is a nocturnal hunter (2). Most of what the cat eats is fish, which they swim in the water to catch. They attract the fish by patting the water with their paw, imitating the movement of an insect (1). For prey such as crustaceans, mollusks, frogs and snakes, they use their paws to scoop them out of the water. They can also swim under water to catch ducks or other types of birds (1). As it swims underwater it uses its tail like a rudder to propel it through the current (1). The cat is a strong swimmer and can also swim very long distances (2). Not only do they eat water animals, but they also eat land animals as most cats do. Rodents, civets, young chital fawns, wild pigs, and even domestic animals make up this cat's diet as well (3).

Reproduction:

Very little is known about the mating and social behavior of the fishing cat. However, what is known is that after a time period of about 63 days pregnant female fishing cats give birth to two or three young cubs. At birth the cubs weigh about 3-6 pounds and continues to gain 11 grams per day. At day 16 they begin to open their eyes and by day 53 they start eating meat (3). These cubs reach full size before their first birthday, roughly at about 8-9 months (1). Births of these cubs are usually around March - April meaning that mating occurs sometime between January-February (2). Their life span is about 10-12 years (3).