Fishing cats are small wild cats with strong aquatic tendencies requiring specialist zoo facilities including access to water, diverse prey, and carefully managed social conditions.
Fishing cat welfare in captivity centres on access to water. Without adequate aquatic features — pools deep enough to swim in, running water that mimics stream environments, and opportunities to fish — fishing cats cannot express fundamental species-typical behaviours. Frustration of these strongly motivated behaviours leads to stereotypic pacing and reduced welfare. Diet enrichment using live fish and crustaceans stimulates natural hunting behaviour and improves enclosure use. Social management is important: even compatible pairs can have territorial disputes, requiring careful monitoring. Fishing cats breed relatively well in quality zoo settings and contribute to conservation awareness of threatened wetland ecosystems often overlooked in conservation funding.