Fishing Cats Don’t Only Catch Fish: They Hunt in the Tree Canopy

The fishing cat is one of the most unique feline species, and new research has revealed that it hunts not only in water but also high up in trees.

Researchers made a surprising discovery when motion-sensor cameras set up in the tree canopy captured these cats hunting birds at heights of 8 meters. This may explain how the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) survives during the monsoon season.

True to its name, the fishing cat mainly eats fish

Fishing cats hunt in trees, too. Cameras in northeastern Bangladesh recorded 19 instances of fishing cats prowling the canopy at night.

South Asia’s wetland habitats are heavily impacted by human activity, and fishing cats depend greatly on the local bird colonies,

explained Muntasir Akash, a co-author of the study and an assistant professor at Dhaka University in Bangladesh. While fishing cats primarily feed on fish, they have also been known to catch water birds like herons, egrets, and cormorants.

To gain deeper insights into their feeding habits, researchers analyzed 282 days of camera footage. This led to the observation of a fishing cat attacking a young black cormorant in a nest within the 8-meter-high canopy of an Indian oak tree.

Unique Adaptations

Fishing cats have several adaptations that enable them to hunt fish effectively. These include a two-layered waterproof coat, retractable claws, and partially webbed paws. According to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, these remarkable cats hunt by wading into shallow water and “scooping” fish with their paws. They are not deterred by deeper water, either—they dive headfirst, catching prey with their teeth.

They Are True Survivors

Despite their unique adaptations, fishing cats retain many typical feline traits that, according to scientists, help them survive during monsoon season, when their usual hunting grounds are flooded. “During monsoon season, almost the entire country becomes a wetland,” the researcher noted. Besides the challenges posed by climate, fishing cats also face significant threats from humans, who often hunt them or drive them from their natural feeding areas.

Recent evidence shows that during the rainy season, fishing cats may find refuge and alternative food sources in the tree canopy.

Researchers believe their findings could be crucial for conservation efforts, as they suggest that deforestation not only threatens bird colonies but also endangers the existence of fishing cats.