Kingdom : Animalia Class : Mammalia Family : Felidae Scientific Name : Prionailurus viverrinus Colour : Olive-Grey, Black Skin Type : Fur Size(L) : 57cm - 85cm (22.4in 0 33.4in) Weight : 5.5kg - 8kg (12lbs - 17.6lbs) Top Speed : 55km/h (34mph) Life Span : 10 - 12 years Most Distinctive Feature : Long, stocky body and slightly webbed paws Fun Fact : Scoops first out of the water using its paw!
- Fishing Cats are medium-small sized cats, native to South-East Asia.
- Distinctly, they inhabit areas with dense vegetation,
- close to water and are incredible swimmers.
- They are a part of the leopard cat linage and are closely related to them.
- Though they have a semi-aquatic lifestyle, their body is not specially adapted to it.
- They have a powerful, stocky body and relatively short legs.
- Their fur coat is short, coarse and patterned with black spots.
- Their flattened short tail acts like a boat’s rudder and helps them steer in the right direction while swimming.
- They are nocturnal animals that lead a solitary lifestyle and are also known to be territorial.
- They are quite adaptable and are sometimes known to live in suburban areas with little vegetation.
- They breed in January and February when the female fishing cats call the males indicating that they are ready.
- 1-4 fishing cat kittens are born after a 60-70-day gestation and are born blind.
- The kittens slowly grow independent and leave for their own territory by 10 months.
- Fishing cats are carnivores mainly feeding on fish and occasionally on molluscs, frogs, snails and snakes.
- Interestingly, they lightly tap the water surface with their paw to mimic an insect and to attract the fish.
- When the fish comes close enough, they flick it on the dry land before eating it.
- Fishing cats are also known to dive deep and swim for long distances to catch their prey.
- They do not have many natural predators but humans pose a great threat of them.
- Habitat loss and poaching by humans have made the fishing cat an endangered species today.