Main Characteristics

Fishing Cats are medium sized cats and they have a body length between 75 and 86 cms (30 - 34 inches), a tail length between 25 and 33 cms (10 - 13 inches) and they weigh between 8 and 14 kgs (18 - 31 lbs). They are grey in colour with black markings and a short tail.

Habitat

Fishing Cats can be found near the rivers, lakes, marshes and mangrove swamps of south and south east Asia.

Diet

Fishing Cats mainly feed on fish, frogs, water insects, snakes, crabs, crayfish, rodents and birds.

Breeding

After a gestation period of 63 - 70 days, Fishing Cats give birth to a litter of 1 - 4 kittens. They are weaned at 4 - 6 months and they are independent and sexually mature by the time they reach 10 months old.

Predators

Humans are the only documented predators of Fishing Cats.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies of Fishing Cat:

Prionailurus viverrinus viverrinus
Prionailurus viverrinus risophores

Interesting Facts

Fishing Cats are one of only four cats that cannot retract their claws, the others being the cheetah, flat-headed cat and iriomote cat.