Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus).
Image: Cliff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Matches source — IUCN's 2025 global assessment of Prionailurus viverrinus says VulnerableChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The fishing cat is a stocky, water-loving wild cat that hunts fish and other aquatic prey. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
It dives and swims readily and has partly webbed feet.
Range & habitat
Wetlands of South and Southeast Asia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Destruction and drainage of wetlands
- Persecution and hunting
- Pollution and reduced fish
Why it matters
A wetland specialist that hunts in and around water, the fishing cat is a flagship for protecting the marshes and mangroves of South and Southeast Asia.
Gallery
Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus).
Image: Kelinahandbasket, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Fishing Cat
- IUCN Red List — look up Fishing Cat (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Do fishing cats really catch fish?
Yes. The fishing cat hunts fish and other aquatic prey, will wade and swim, and may scoop fish from the water or dive after them — unusual behaviour for a cat.
Why is the fishing cat Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite the destruction and drainage of wetlands, persecution and hunting, and pollution and reduced fish stocks. See the IUCN Red List.