🐾 Land🐟 AquaticCare difficulty: AdvancedLegal complexity: High — restricted in many states
Fishing cat
Prionailurus viverrinus
The fishing cat is a medium-sized wild cat of Asian wetlands, an adept swimmer that hunts in and around water. Vulnerable due to the rapid loss of wetlands and mangroves, it is a protected species and not a pet.
Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
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Quick facts
| Size | Medium wild cat ~57-78 cm body, stocky, with partially webbed feet. |
| Lifespan | 10–12 years |
| Native region | Wetlands of South and Southeast Asia |
| Climate | 🌴 Tropical |
| Genus | Prionailurus |
Habitat & enclosure
Associated with marshes, mangroves, reed beds, and riverbanks, where it readily enters water to hunt. Drainage of wetlands, aquaculture conversion, pollution, and persecution threaten it across its range. It is strictly protected and CITES-listed; this profile is conservation/education only and it is never a pet.
Diet
A skilled fisher that also takes rodents, birds, and other small animals, scooping fish from the water and even diving after prey. Its dependence on healthy wetlands ties it to broader freshwater conservation.
Behavior & temperament
Largely nocturnal and solitary, it has slightly webbed feet and a water-resistant coat suited to a semi-aquatic life. Wetland protection and reducing conflict with people, especially around fish farms, are central to its survival.
Reviewed and signed off by: KinStation Editorial — conservation profile (pending DVM/biologist review)