Range

This species is found throughout South East Asia. They can be found throughout Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. They can also be found in Indonesia on the islands of Java and Sumatra.

Habitat

Fishing cats have such a large range as they live in mangroves which are far apart from each other. They can be found in mangrove swamps which feature swamps, rivers, lakes, reeds and marshes. Most of their habitats are in a forest with a stream so that they can fish. They are under threat as 98% of South East Asia’s wetlands are at risk of being destroyed due draining or pollution.

Other habitats that they may inhabit include evergreen and tropical dry forests.

Reproduction

Females will call to the males when they are ready to mate. Breeding normally takes place between January and February. If it has been rainy and the food is plentiful more kittens are born as the parents are healthy.

Females are the only ones who assist with the rearing of the kittens in the wild. Males have been seen assisting with the rearing of the young In captivity.

The mother finds a dense thicket of reeds or something similar where they can create a den. Litters consist of up to four kittens although two is the average. The kittens are born with their eyes closed.

After two weeks their eyes will open. At 50 days old they get their first taste for meat. They will continue drinking milk till they are 4-6 months old. Fishing cats are fully grown and sexually mature at 9 months old.

At 10 months old they leave their mother and go off to establish their own territory. Their canine teeth come through at 11 months of age.

Behavior

A system of hisses, guttural growls and meows is used by these cats to communicate.

Humans are the only predator of the fishing cat.

This species will maintain a home territory. To mark this out they will use cheek rubbing, head rubbing, neck rubbing and spraying with urine. A males territory will overlap that of numerous females.

Fishing cats are nocturnal. During the day they will sleep in a reed bed. At night they head for water where they are able to fish.

They have incredible swimming abilities. They will swim vast differences when looking to catch a fish. Their tail acts like a rudder to push them along.

Predators and Threats

Humans are considered to be the only predator of the fishing cat.

Fishing cats are facing a number of threats and they are considered to be at high risk of extinction across their range.

Threats faced by them include habitat loss and fragmentation, persecution due to conflict with humans along with damage to fishing nets and killing for consumption.

Some are captured to be traded as pets.

Quick facts

The scientific name ‘Prionailurus viverrinus’ means ‘civet like.’

Fishing cats were first described by Bennet in 1883.

West Bengal has the fishing cat as its national animal.