# Fishing Cat (*Prionailurus viverrinus*) The Fishing Cat is a special type of cat that loves water! It has webbed feet to help it swim and catch fish. These cats are playful and can often be found near rivers and swamps. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Fishing Cat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Prionailurus_viverrinus_01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kelinahandbasket, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prionailurus_viverrinus_01.jpg) ## Appearance The Fishing Cat is a medium-sized, stocky wild cat with a relatively short tail and short legs. Its coarse, grayish-brown fur is covered in dark spots and stripes, with two prominent dark lines across its cheeks. Unique among cats, it has partially webbed front paws and claws that don't fully retract. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Felidae - **Genus:** Prionailurus ## Interesting facts - Fishing cats often hunt by dipping their head into the water to grab unsuspecting fish! - Its dense, water-repellent fur helps it stay warm and dry even after long swims! - Some fishing cats have been seen hunting in water that is even waist-deep for a person! - Unlike many cats, they love water and are excellent swimmers from a young age! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Hunter:** Fishing Cat can dive and swim underwater to catch fish because of its partially webbed paws and dense, water-resistant fur. - **Fish Scooper:** Fishing Cat has semi-retractable claws that help them grip slippery prey, even scooping fish directly out of the water. - **Sensitive Whiskers:** Fishing Cat has long, stiff whiskers that help them detect fish movements and navigate murky waters in the dark. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 77-108 cm - **Weight:** 5-16 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 32 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-4 - **Gestation:** 63-71 days ## Diet & Feeding Mostly eats fish, but also crabs, frogs, and small animals found near water. - **Primary Foods:** fish, crabs, frogs, snakes, waterfowl, rodents - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Striped Snakehead (*Channa striata*) — A common freshwater fish species forming a key part of its diet. - **Hunts:** Paddy Field Frog (*Fejervarya limnocharis*) — Frequently preys on these amphibians found in marshy areas. - **Eaten by:** Mugger Crocodile (*Crocodylus palustris*) — Large crocodiles can occasionally prey on fishing cats near water. - **Hunts:** [Brown Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-rat) (*Rattus norvegicus*) — Hunts these rodents that often inhabit areas near water and human settlements. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Fishing Cats are wild animals, so it's best to admire them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Fishing Cat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Fishing Cat? 77-108 cm ### How much does Fishing Cat weigh? 5-16 kg ### How long does Fishing Cat live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Fishing Cat move? 32 km/h ### What does Fishing Cat eat? Mostly eats fish, but also crabs, frogs, and small animals found near water. ### Where is Fishing Cat usually found? Wetlands ### How does Fishing Cat hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Zoologická zahrada Děčín - Pastýřská stěna](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologick-zahrada-d-n-past-sk-st-na) — Ústí nad Labem Region, CZ · Zoo - [Newquay Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/newquay-zoo) — England, GB · Zoo - [Burgundy Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burgundy-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Fishing Cat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fishing-cat) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Fishing Cat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fishing-cat)