Origin
The angler cat (Felis viverrinus) is a medium-sized cat that lives in regions of Southern and southeastern Asia. A large number of specimens occur in Burma, Nepal, Thailand, China, India, Indochina, in the jungles of Ceylon, the island of Sumatra and the island of Java.
It can be found both in large forests, and in areas with mangrove forests, estuaries, along the coast, in swampy areas with reeds and tall grasses. Some hunters have seen it in the Himalayas at altitudes of 1500 m.
The angler cat belongs to the order Carnivora, family Felidae. The risk of extinction of this species is reduced, it is threatened by poaching, water pollution and the environment in general, as well as by the destruction of the natural habitat.
More and more wetlands are being taken over by man for farming or fishing.
It was first described by Bennet in 1833.
Angler Cat Feed
The name Cat-fisherman refers to the habit of being a good semi-aquatic Hunter of fish, snakes, frogs, crabs, crustaceans, crayfish, snails and water insects. Besides what it catches in the water it feeds on birds, mice, reptiles, sheep and calves.
The scientific name "viverrinus" refers to its viverid, civet – like proportions-short legs, long stocky body.
When she hunts, she's patient. It has the habit of standing near the water, carefully observing if prey appears, then suddenly jumps on it and catches it with its snout, pierces it with sharp teeth, special to retain any slippery fish.
He can swim very well, often catches the fish in his mouth and brings it to the shore to enjoy it in peace. Sometimes he prefers to eat shellfish, sits on the waterfront and gathers them with his paws, or sometimes dives his head into the water and catches them directly in his mouth greedily.
Appearance Cat Fisherman
It has the body covered with soft and shiny fur, Gray-Gray, on the dorsal side brownish, sprinkled with small black or dark brown spots, of different sizes, evenly distributed, in longitudinal rows especially on the sides and on the back.
An adult specimen has a body length of 75-86 cm, a weight of 8-14 kg and a tail length of 25-33 cm.
The legs are long, end with slightly palmed fingers, with sharp claws and only partially retractable.
The tail is short and shows the same color only the drawing is not with spots as on the rest of the body, but with black rings. The head is large, with elongated and slightly flattened ears, the eyes are large, with a light-colored Iris.
The strong body is considered long compared to the short legs. One difference from its tame relatives is that the claws are not totally retractable.
Behavior Cat Fisherman
Known as a nocturnal and solitary species the fisherman cat rests during the day in dense vegetation near the water. He is a very skilled swimmer, they are recognized for swimming long distances, often chasing a fish that is trying to escape.
It is an animal with a large territory of 22km square. Often the territory of females is much smaller. It is known as an animal that adapts. It has been seen near canals in the suburbs of cities close to people's settlements.
Almost entirely nocturnal life and expensive feline movements in sight.
It is not an exclusively nocturnal species, it hunts both day and night, it is often irascible, ferocious and dangerous, especially when it feels threatened or injured. With the people she knows, she's even friendly.
There is a legend of the fisherman cat that says that the locals have signaled this feline that it kidnaps children from the cradle while they sleep.
Breeding Angler Cat
The angler cat can mate all year round, but most often does so in January and February. The female builds a burrow in a secluded place preferably in areas with as much Reed.
The female gives birth to two to four cubs after a gestation period of 63-70 days, which are breastfed for several weeks then teach them to hunt, to look for food on their own. Puppies open their eyes at two weeks, they are weaned at four months.
As they open their eyes, they become more and more active. They begin to play in the water and feed on solid food, but are not fully weaned until 6 months of age.
They reach adult size at 8-9 months, and canines reach maximum size only at 11 months. They reach sexual maturity at 15 months.
They live about 10-12 years in the wild and up to 15 in captivity.
