Fishing cats are vulnerable semi-aquatic felids with specialist environmental needs. Their welfare in zoo settings requires appropriate water features, diet, and environmental complexity.
Fishing cat welfare in captivity is fundamentally dependent on access to appropriate water features that allow expression of their highly adapted semi-aquatic behaviour. Enclosures without deep water that allows swimming and underwater fish pursuit fail to meet a core behavioural need and result in welfare compromise through boredom and frustration. Water quality management is important as fishing cats spend significant time in water and are susceptible to waterborne pathogens. Live fish provision engages natural hunting behaviour in a way that pre-killed prey cannot replicate. The combination of water features, terrestrial complexity with hiding areas, appropriate social management, and diet variety creates conditions in which fishing cats can express their specialised behavioural repertoire and maintain good welfare.