Fishing Cat

India is home to 15 species of wild cats, but the smaller ones, like the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), often receive less attention than the larger lions and tigers.

About the Fishing Cat

• Appearance and Size: The fishing cat is roughly twice the size of a domestic cat, weighing between 7 and 12 kg. It has a greyish-brown coat with distinct black spots.
• Habitat: It lives in wetlands, which are waterlogged ecosystems such as river floodplains, mangroves, and swamps. It is often the apex predator in its territory.
• Diet and Hunting: Its primary diet is fish, but it also preys on rodents, chickens, and other small animals. The cat spends most of its hunting time on the water’s edge, using its paws to flush out fish in shallow water.
• Population and Distribution: Fishing cat populations are scattered across various regions, including the Terai region of the Himalayas, some marshes in Western India, the Sundarbans, and along the East coast, as well as in Sri Lanka. It was recently sighted in Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, after being presumed to have died out in the area.
• Conservation Status: The fishing cat is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Its declining population is largely due to habitat loss, with an estimated 30-40% of India’s wetlands having been lost or degraded in the last four decades.

Source: TH