Fishing Cat

The fishing cat is a medium-sized wild cat found in wetlands, mangroves, and riverine habitats across South and Southeast Asia. As its name suggests, it is unusually adapted to a semi-aquatic life, with partially webbed front paws and a double-layered coat that helps it swim and dive in pursuit of fish, its primary prey, along with crustaceans, mollusks, amphibians, and birds. It is a strong swimmer capable of crossing rivers and diving fully underwater to catch prey. Its dependence on wetland habitat has made it especially vulnerable to the widespread drainage and conversion of wetlands for agriculture and development across its range.