Fishing cats are medium-sized, semi-aquatic wildcats from South and Southeast Asia whose wetland lifestyle creates specific welfare requirements in captivity.
Fishing cats in zoos require aquatic environments that are often inadequately provided. Without deep, accessible water pools where they can wade and fish, fishing cats cannot express core natural behaviors — aquatic hunting drives are strong and create significant frustration when denied. Unlike terrestrial wildcats, insufficient water access is a welfare failure specific to this species. Their semi-social nature means carefully matched pair housing is possible and often beneficial, but incompatible pairings create chronic aggression in confined spaces. As wetland specialists, high humidity and varied aquatic enrichment are essential. Fishing cats are generally underrepresented in captive collections relative to their conservation need, and many zoos lack appropriate aquatic exhibit infrastructure for the species.