Thai Fishing Cat

[dirtydog]

My girlfriend told me about these years ago, a cat that lives in the woodlands of Chanthaburi and swims and catches fish, got to admit I wasn't sure whether to believe her, but did think it would make a good pet, anyway it seems they are real and look quite smart.

Science Name : Prionailurus viverrinus
General Characteristics : Its figure is look like domestic cat but its size is bigger. Its face and limb are short. Its tail length is shorter than half of its body length. It has round ears. It is brown-gray in color with black-brown vertical marking line along its flanks.
Habitat / Food : It is found in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, Sumatra and Java. In Thailand, it is found in every part near water sources. It eats insects and small animals such as crabs, frogs, small green frogs, birds, rats, and shells. But its most favorite is fishes.
Behavior / Mating : It stays in shrubs near water. It makes a living near water sources. It catches fishes in shallow water. It can swim and dive.It is mature and ready for mating at the age of 2 years. Gestation period is around 63 days. One litter contains 2 – 3 young. It weans at the age of more than 6 months. It can live up to 20 years.
Current Status : It is a protected animal of Thailand under Thai Wildlife Protection Act B.E. 2535.
Visiting Location : Dusit Zoo, Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Chiang Mai Zoo, Song Khla Zoo

Wild Cats of Thailand

[sabang]

My cat swims too.

[patsycat]

Mine just falls in the bath occasionally. Causing scratches to my thighs!!

[aging one]

Wife had one during university. They only like their masters, and shit and pee in the toilet. The pictures she have are too much. She has an old cassette of it hissing and growling at her friends as they tried to get close to it.

[kmart]

I saw a family (Mum w/ 3 cubs) of these crossing the road on my way into work (Rayong) one morning. No one believed me.

[Davis Knowlton]

We had one in our base camp down in Aranyaprathet. Mean little fuckers - hiss and bite if given the slightest opportunity. A Cambodian refugee brought it over the border with him and sold it to one of my drivers for a few Baht. Nasty thing - Thais down there call them fish cats.

[Ciaphas]

Well, well, well. For years my misses has been telling me that a wild cat has been eating our fish and frogs and I just assumed it was a domestic cat gone wild and didn't believe her. Humble pie for me tonight I think.

[Wayne Kerr]

Looks a bit like a bobcat. I ate something in Thailand a few weeks that some one said was kind of a cat that lives mostly up in tress. Wonder if this was it?

[Davis Knowlton]

^They do look very much like bobcats, but I don't believe they live in trees. Mostly in swampy areas near rivers.

[Cujo]

[genghis61]

are these the same as Bengals? Friend has two female Bengals, strict rules on their breeding (NZ) couldn't collect them until they were old enough to have been neutered. They are amazing bird killers and I remember one of the regional councils wanted to ban them for the damage they did to native birdlife. His ones have attacked dogs - not when the dog chases them, the other way around. Definitely not 'cuddly' cats they don't like being held.

[Takeovers]

They are their own race. Their fur is adapted to the water.

Dug was faster than me. I just uploaded a few pics from the same series. I will add part of them.



Look at those paws. You don't want to mess with them.

[kingwilly]

fishing in the bath!

[dirtydog]

Poor bugger needs a bigger bowl

[HollyGoodhead]

so is the huge cat in those pics living in the west? Wonder if they need a special licence... Guess they can't let it outside either. What's wrong with having a normal cat anyway...wouldn't want that one getting pissed at me.

[Davis Knowlton]

They aren't that big; maybe 30% larger than a large house cat. But, they are MEAN. I can't imagine having one living in a house with you. They must have raised it since birth, or it would be hauling them off to its bowl.

[somtamslap]

What's wrong with having a normal cat anyway

Would you like me to pen a three thousand word essay on the matter?

[HollyGoodhead]

^yes please if it's as hilarious as your other works...

[bobo746]

dont think i would be comfortable getting to sleep at night knowing that thing was ready to stalk me

[joboss]

you would be safe. i am not sure about your wife. It likes fish

[sabaii sabaii]

^ ouch

I never got why people wanna keep wild animals as pets, not your wife bobo, the cat

[Scandinavian]

Nasty thing - Thais down there call them fish cats.

And they eat mainly cat fish, I guess.

[Roger Ramjet]

Protected Pussy!!!!! Sure is a pretty cat!.....I wonder if it eats Cane Toads?...... then it would be a really great pet to have in Australia! Aside from eating birds...it would be a very usefull pet to have around...especially to keep the local dogs in line!.....only if you haven't got pet chickens! I bet they are pushing their luck in the areas where fighting cocks are treated like royalty!

[bobo746]

I never got why people wanna keep wild animals as pets, not your wife bobo, the cat

ex wife mate she had a bigger meaner pussy than that

[BosseO]

I saw a few kittens for sale at a Bangkok market in 1988.