Fishing cats are one of the few small cats strongly tied to aquatic environments, making their captive welfare distinctly dependent on water access and aquatic behavioral opportunities.
Fishing cats in zoo collections demonstrate the importance of environment-behavior matching in carnivore welfare. Without large, deep water features they cannot perform their most species-typical behaviors — wading, swimming, and fish capture. Studies show that fishing cats in enclosures with adequate water features display significantly more natural behavior and lower stress indicators than those in dry enclosures. Feeding enrichment that requires aquatic foraging — placing fish in water, varying depth and current — provides both behavioral opportunities and psychological stimulation. Their crepuscular and nocturnal activity patterns mean that visitor-facing enrichment programs should occur in early morning or evening to align with natural activity. Conservation education about Asian wetland ecosystems is an important secondary purpose of fishing cat exhibits.