Fishing Cat

The fishing cat is a stocky, muscular wild cat of South and Southeast Asia, about twice the size of a domestic cat, with yellowish-grey fur marked by black lines and spots. It lives mostly in dense vegetation near wetlands, including swamps, marshes, oxbow lakes, tidal creeks and mangroves. Primarily nocturnal, it is a proficient swimmer, with partly webbed paws, and hunts along the edges of watercourses, sometimes diving in after prey. Fish make up about three-quarters of its diet in one Indian study, with birds, rodents and insects making up much of the remainder. Adults without dependent young are solitary.

About the fishing cat

The fishing cat is a medium-sized wild cat of South and Southeast Asia that lives around wetlands and feeds mostly on fish. It belongs to the genus Prionailurus, the Asian spotted cats that include the leopard cat, and is the largest member of that group. It is a strong swimmer that hunts in shallow water and can swim underwater.

Its scientific name is Prionailurus viverrinus. It is about twice the size of a domestic cat, stocky and muscular, with medium to short legs and a short tail, less than half the length of the head and body, that ends in a few black rings. Males are much larger than females: 8 to 17 kg (18 to 37 lb) against 5 to 9 kg (11 to 20 lb).

The coat is a deep yellowish grey marked with black lines and spots. Two stripes run across each cheek, two more run from above the eyes back to the neck, and two rows of spots ring the throat. Spots on the shoulders are elongated, while those on the sides, legs and tail are rounder. Background color ranges from yellowish tawny to ashy grey depending on the individual. The ears are short, rounded and set low, with a white spot on the back of each.

Several features suit a life around water. The fur has two layers: a short, dense underlayer thought to keep out water and hold in heat, and longer guard hairs that give the pattern its glossy sheen. The paws are partly webbed. The claws are only partly sheathed, staying slightly exposed even when fully retracted. The tongue is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long, with large cylindrical papillae near the tip.

Behavior and diet

The fishing cat is thought to be mainly nocturnal, resting by day in thick grass, usually near water. Adults are solitary except for mothers with kittens. Females have been recorded using home ranges of 4 to 6 km² (1.5 to 2.3 sq mi), while males range over 16 to 22 km² (6.2 to 8.5 sq mi). They mark territory by rubbing their cheeks, head, chin and neck on objects, spraying urine and scratching. Adults make a "chuckling" call.

Fish make up most of the diet. Droppings collected in India's Keoladeo National Park showed fish made up about three-quarters of the diet, with birds, small rodents and insects making up the rest. Mollusks, reptiles, amphibians, cattle carrion and even grass are occasional extras. In the Godavari River delta, fish such as grey mullet, green chromide and Mozambique tilapia made up three-fifths of the diet, and rodents and crabs the remainder.

Its hunting style is patient. A fishing cat works the edge of a stream or pond, spending about half its time lying in wait for prey to come close, then scoops prey out of the water. It prefers shallow water but will dive in to catch prey farther from the bank, and it can swim long distances.

In the wild, mating most likely happens in January and February, though it can run as late as June, and most kittens appear in March and April. In captivity gestation lasts 63 to 70 days, with one to four kittens, usually two or three. Newborns weigh about 170 g (6 oz). Kittens move around actively at one month, start playing in water and eating solid food at about two months, and are weaned at six months. They reach adult size at about eight and a half months and maturity at about 15 months.

Range and habitat

The fishing cat is found across South and Southeast Asia, but its range is patchy. It has been recorded in Pakistan's Sindh Province, Nepal's Terai, many parts of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as well as Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. Java marks the southern edge of its range. There are no confirmed records from Peninsular Malaysia, Vietnam or Laos.

Its habitat is defined by water and cover. It lives in densely vegetated wetlands around slow-moving water: swamps, marshes and low-salinity oxbow lakes, as well as salty tidal creeks and mangrove forests. Along these waters it hides in forest, scrub, reed beds and tall grass. Most records come from lowlands, and in Sri Lanka it has even been found on tea estates.

Conservation status

The fishing cat has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2016, a rating kept in a 2025 assessment. The global population is thought to have fallen by about 30% over three generations during 2010 to 2015. Its generation length is about five years.

The main threats are the loss of wetlands and killing by people. Wetlands are drained for farming and settlements, polluted, or, in places like Andhra Pradesh, converted into commercial aquaculture ponds. In Thailand and Cambodia, only an estimated 6% of coastal wetlands remain undisturbed. Overfishing removes its prey.

Conflict with people is severe in places. In West Bengal's Howrah district, 27 dead fishing cats were recorded in about a year from 2010 to 2011. At least 30 were killed in Bangladesh between 2010 and 2013, often because they were mistaken for tiger cubs. In Thailand, 31% of radio-collared fishing cats were killed by people between 2012 and 2015, and fish farmers in Nepal have killed them in retaliation for lost fish. Road traffic is a major cause of death in Odisha.

The species is listed on CITES Appendix II, and hunting is banned in most range countries, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia. It is the state animal of West Bengal. Conservation groups work with villagers on alternative livelihoods to slow habitat loss. Captive breeding programs have been set up in Europe and North America, and captive fishing cats worldwide are listed in an international studbook, kept as an insurance population.