Fishing Cat: Life Near Water Highly Suitable

Cats despise the water, or so that's what we believe because in general, cats do not really enjoy swimming that much; however, one exotic cat stands out among the others for their good swimming skills, and their ability to live near water environments and locations. The Fishing Cat has webbing on their front feet which makes them an adept and enthusiastic swimmer and fisher! They can also make great pets!

The Fishing Cat is considered to be a small member of the exotic cat family; however, compared to domestic cats they really aren't that small. In fact, they will actually measure from 30 to 40 inches from their head to their body. They will weigh from 16 to 30 pounds with males being slightly larger than the females usually. They have a coarse brown or gray color coat; in fact, their coat is not as special as compared to other exotic cats; however, their ability to swim and fish is! Often, there are patterns on their coats like spots and stripes, and they have a stocky appearance and short tail.

Water pollution and deforestation are generally the biggest threats to them due to the fact that they have to suffer from environment loss or diseases and sicknesses from the pollution; not to mention, a decreasing number of prey. The Fishing Cat can be found in Sri Lank, India, Vietnam, China and even Thailand. Because they are quite a rare commodity there too, they are considered to be a threatened species of exotic cats.

The Fishing Cat likes to spend most of its time around watery marshes, and streams as that is where they usually obtain their diet which includes frogs, fish, and snakes. They have an amazing ability to catch prey, and have even been seen diving deep into the water in order to get them at times. Other than marine animals, the Fishing Cat has also been observed to eat grass; in fact, some claim that it is an important part of their diet!

For a Fishing Cat, a license may actually be required to own them. It is important for the cat to have their own enclosure outside which include rocks, pool, logs etc. to imitate their natural environment. It is important for Fishing Cats to be trained at a young age to use a collar and a leash for walks, and not to bite or claw their owners or anyone because it may become a larger problem when they mature. It is also recommended not to allow the Fishing cat to wander around outside by themselves; in fact, the owners should know at all times where their cat is. Generally, a lifespan of the Fishing Cat would be for 12 years. Fishing Cats require exotic pet veterinarians to care for them.