Kaia – Fishing Cat

Kaia is a female Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) born in December, 2013. She is healthy and is a wonderful addition to our educational program. She came to us in hopes that we will be able to provide more in-depth information to other licensed facilities who also house these beautiful cats. She is an extremely active individual who keeps us on our toes as well as adds smiles to our day. She has a unique personality and has a strong bond with her keeper, you may hear her chirp when her keeper is around. She is one of the lucky residences to have a sponsor, which we hope will inspire our guests to sponsor more of the Foundation’s residents.

These smaller cats reach anywhere from 15-25 pounds and can get up to 25-34 inches long. They have a long body with relatively short legs and broad face. They have slightly webbed paws, which they use for swimming or scooping prey out of the water. When swimming they will also use their tail as a rudder. The fishing cat is at home in the water and can swim long distances even under water. Their diet consists mainly of fish but they also eat small mammals, snails, snakes, and birds. They are very skilled fishers, for which they get their name. Fishing cats are thought to be primarily nocturnal as well as solitary.

Fishing Cats are native to south and southeast Asia, and can be found in densely vegetated areas near bodies of water, such as marshes, rivers, mangroves, and streams. They are currently listed as a vulnerable species, mainly due to habitat loss and poaching. They are hunted for their fur as well as for food. Most of their territory has been polluted and encroached upon for agricultural use and human settlements.

Fishing Cat Statistics: