Fishing Cat - Definition and Overview

The Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized cat of Asia. Its fur has a olive-grey colour with dark spots. The size is variable: while it is 80 cm (plus 30 cm tail) in India, it is only 65 cm (plus 25 cm) in Indonesia.

Like its closest relative, the Leopard Cat, the Fishing Cat lives along rivers and brooks. It is even more adapted to this habitat, since it swims often and skillfully. On the other hand, the Fishing Cat is rather clumsy when climbing trees.

As the name implies, fish is the main prey of this cat. In addition it hunts for other aquatic animals like frogs or crayfish, as well as for terrestrial animals like rodents and birds.

There are two subspecies:

• Prionailurus viverrinus viverrinus, India, Southeast Asian mainland, Sumatra
• Prionailurus viverrinus risophores, Java, Bali

A fishing cat is on public display at the Minnesota Zoological Gardens.