Fishing cats are endangered semi-aquatic wildcats from South and Southeast Asia with specific water access and dietary requirements that must be met in captive settings.
Fishing cat welfare in captivity centres on water access and appropriate diet. Fishing cats deprived of water access are denied fundamental behavioural expression — they are not simply land carnivores who occasionally enter water but semi-aquatic felids for whom water is central to their ecology. Enclosures must include pools deep enough for swimming and hunting behaviour. Dietary enrichment using live or prepared fish provides both nutritional adequacy and foraging stimulation. Their solitary nature requires careful social management, particularly during breeding pairs' introduction. Facilities with appropriate aquatic infrastructure and fish-based diets can achieve good welfare and contribute to conservation breeding.