A Cat That Swims Like an Otter: Inside the World of the Fishing Cat

Guwahati: The Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) hides from people who think it looks like a leopard cat or a large house cat which makes it one of South Asia's most hidden wild animals that plays an important role in ecosystems. 

The semi-aquatic wild cat known as 'Meseka' in Assam receives legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 while the IUCN Red List designates the animal as a rare species.

The Fishing Cat remains one of the least studied carnivores in the region because its legal protections fail to stop people from hunting the cat while wetland areas throughout South Asia experience rapid decline.

Built for Life in Water

The Fishing Cat has developed aquatic adaptations that differentiate it from other wild cat species. The adult cat weighs between 8 and 15 kilograms and possesses a double-layered waterproof coat which keeps its body dry during swimming.

The cat's webbed paws and semi-retractable claws and short tail which resembles a rudder enable it to swim effectively while it hunts. The ear canal flap functions as a specialized mechanism which seals off the ear canal during underwater dives to stop water from entering the ears.

Researchers who study wildlife observe that the species demonstrates exceptional intelligence because it uses both ambush and active hunting techniques to catch fish and occasionally dives with its eyes partially closed.

The Fishing Cat Diet

The cat's diet consists mainly of fish which provides essential protein and nutrients. The Fishing Cat uses its hunting skills to capture various animals which include small rodents and birds and reptiles and amphibians and crabs and snails according to the animals' seasonal presence.

The cat species which exists as one of two worldwide feline species that hunt aquatic environments and give birth on dry land represents a distinctive life cycle method which differs from all other feline species.

Where It Lives

The Fishing Cat inhabits areas which include river basins that exist at altitudes between 100 and 150 meters. The species distribution covers all major river basins in South and Southeast Asia which include the Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Ayeyarwady, Chao Phraya, and Mekong basins, while also existing as island populations in Sri Lanka and Java of Indonesia.

The most critical habitat for this species in India exists within Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve which operates in Assam. The cats typically inhabit wet grasslands and reed beds and shallow wetlands but they escape to higher elevations or forested areas when floods occur.

The 2026 camera trap data identified 57 Fishing Cats in Kaziranga which indicates that the park's wet grasslands contain one of the highest protected area populations of this species.

Why It Matters

The Fishing Cat serves as an indicator species according to conservationists because its presence shows that freshwater ecosystems remain unspoiled. The wetlands which provide habitat for Fishing Cats function as vital ecosystems because they store carbon and purify water and control floodwaters for both wildlife and human populations.

Researchers consider the Brahmaputra floodplain to be a "vessel" which carries various life forms because it serves as an essential global conservation area for multiple species.

Growing Threats

The Fishing Cat encounters multiple threats that stem from changes in the environment and both natural and human activities. The area experiences multiple types of flooding which range from sudden extreme floods to natural flood cycle interruptions and wetland siltation and invasive plant species growth and the elimination of natural habitats through both forest expansion and human development.

The species faces a risk of local extinction in multiple areas because these alterations lead to decreased food resources and the destruction of their essential breeding environments.

Tracking and Protecting the Species

The researchers suggest that scientists should track the species using three methods which include camera traps and footprint surveys and scat analysis. Forest officials need to document every sighting they observe while students and local communities should conduct wetland surveys and raise public awareness about these areas.

The media and civil society organizations should work to establish the Fishing Cat as a central species which protects wetlands throughout Assam and South Asia.

Linked to Human Survival

The experts state that the future of the Fishing Cat depends on the survival of humans. The protection of wetlands preserves this endangered species while providing clean water resources and climate protection and flood control systems which benefit millions of people who reside in river basin areas.

Also Read: Assam: Scientists Trace Kaziranga’s Evolution into the Ultimate Haven for the One-Horned Rhino