fishing cat

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fishing cat

mammal

Also known as: Felis viverrina, Prionailurus viverrinus

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

fishing cat, (species Felis viverrina), tropical cat of the family Felidae, found in India and Southeast Asia. The coat of the fishing cat is pale gray to deep brownish gray and marked with dark spots and streaks. The adult animal stands about 40 cm (16 inches) at the shoulder, weighs 8–11 kg (18–24 pounds), and is from 60 to 85 cm long, excluding the black-ringed tail, which accounts for an additional 25–30 cm. The fishing cat lives near water and in jungles, reed beds, and marshes. It is reported to fish by scooping its prey out of the water.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.