Viverrid fishing cat in the wild
The civet fishing cat lives in tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia, in Southeast India, Indochina, Sumatra, Ceylon, Java and Bali. Not to be confused with the jungle cat, which differs from the civet both in appearance and in its lifestyle. Fish cats settle near reservoirs, lakes, swamps and slow rivers, in general, wherever they can find food and not be seen by humans. An adult civet cat occupies a territory of 4-8 km2, the territory of males can reach 22 km2.
Fishing cats breed all year round. Pregnancy lasts 63-70 days. Litters are not numerous, usually 2-3 kittens are born. At 4.5 months, the young animals switch to adult food, and by 9 months they catch up with the size of their parents and switch to self-sufficiency. Reaches sexual maturity much later, at 2-3 years. In captivity, males help the female raise offspring; how they behave in the wild is not known for certain. And the rest of the way of life of civets has not been studied well enough.
Video about civet fishing cats:
Appearance
Externally, the civet fishing cat resembles an African civet. Actually, thanks to its Latin name - viverra, and its external resemblance, it got its name. Like wild cats, African civets are predators, but they are known for another feature - they eat coffee berries. The beans that pass through their digestive tract are collected, roasted and brewed into an expensive coffee drink called Luwak Coffee.
But let's get back to the fishermen. The weight of an adult cat is 11-15 kg, cats weigh less - 6-7 kg. The body length is 96-120 cm, and the height at the withers is 38-40 cm. The fangs of an adult cat reach 3 cm in length, the claws 1.5-2 cm. Experts divide fishing cats into two types, which differ slightly in color and size . Fishermen from Southeast Asia, including the island of Sumatra, are much larger than their relatives from the islands of Java and Bali. In the cat family, the closest relatives of fishermen are Far Eastern (Amur) cats.
The fishing cat has a strong build and well-developed muscles. In general they are very strong and agile. The muzzle is wide and short. The bridge of the nose is practically absent, the nose is very wide and large, the widest among all cats. This structure allows the cat to swim and dive freely. The ears are round, small, and set low on the sides of the head. The lower jaw is very well developed and rounded. The head fits well on the short neck. The legs are relatively short, as is the tail, which makes up 1/4 of the entire length of the body and has the same thickness from base to tip. The color is grayish-brown with black stripes and spots. Behind the pinna, which is mostly black, there are white spots called eye spots. There are webs between the toes on the front paws. They prevent the cat from fully retracting its claws, but are very helpful in swimming and fishing.
Fossa (lat. Cryptoprocta ferox)
Endemic to the island of Madagascar and its largest predator, the only modern representative of the genus Cryptoprocta.
The classification of this unusual animal is quite complicated; scientists could not finally decide which family it belongs to. For a long time, the Fossa was classified as a cat, then the emphasis changed towards the civet family of the felid suborder. Only a genetic analysis made it possible to solve this dilemma, according to the results of which the species was placed in a separate family of Madagascar civets.
Fossa in an aggressive stance. Photo: hakoar
One way or another, the fossa is a very close relative of cats. Moreover, Fossa is very similar in appearance and lifestyle to Proailurus, a predator that was the common ancestor of all cat-like animals.
In appearance, the Fossa is similar to the South American jaguarundi and puma. The dense, elongated body reaches 80 cm in length, weighing about 10 kg. A very long and massive tail helps to balance well while climbing trees. Powerful paws of medium length are armed with semi-extendable claws.
Fossas spend most of their time in trees. Their paws and tail are designed in such a way that they allow them to easily move from branch to branch, feeling comfortable even in the thin crowns of trees. Thanks to its tenacious sharp claws, this predator can descend from a tree head down. In a word, this is their element.
Fossa resting on a tree. Photo: David Cook
Fossa's extraordinary ability to climb trees determined the basis of their diet - lemurs. When hunting on land, a predator does not disdain its prey; these can be mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and even insects. It is particularly bloodthirsty - it often kills more prey than it can eat.
Family ties with cats can also be traced in the voice of the Foss: kittens purr just like domestic animals, and adult animals growl and meow protractedly when threatened.
Character and behavior
In the wild, the civet fishing cat is very careful, avoids meeting people in every possible way and, if possible, will not enter into conflict, but will always be able to stand up for itself. Many people talk about their aggressiveness and assertiveness. Local residents tell many stories about fishermen who entered settlements, were not afraid of anyone and easily dispersed a pack of dogs. There is a myth in Singapore that a baby was carried away by a fish cat. However, there is no documentary evidence of this. But there is another true fact. In one zoo, a very large male escaped from his cage and ended up with a leopard, which he killed in a fight.
The civet fishing cat can meow and hiss, and also makes other interesting sounds that vaguely resemble laughter, barking, or a short abrupt yelp. They are difficult to describe, but can be heard in the video. The main occupation of the fisherman is rest and sleep; in his free time, the animal wanders through shallow water in search of food or hunts small terrestrial animals. In zoos, civet cats lead a moderately active lifestyle, they can frolic a little, but generally they do not waste energy. They can climb trees, but do not like to climb high on branches. Rookeries are built on the ground or rest at low altitudes.
Description of the breed
In appearance, the speckled cat, as it is also called, is something between a Far Eastern cat and a civet. It is relatively small, but quite large relative to its domesticated furry relatives. The average weight of males is 15 kg, females - 10 kg. Inside the small body lies uncontrollable strength and power: according to rumors, in a fight with a leopard, the fish cat always remains the winner.
The head of the animal is of interest: it is round with a massive lower jaw. The shape of the ears and nose is ideal for diving. The front toes are webbed, which is why the cat never retracts its claws.
The hunter’s exclusively terrestrial lifestyle also affected his gait: his body was squat with powerful short legs. Unlike other representatives of the cat fauna, the civet's tail is short and thick, and does not taper downward. He uses it instead of a rudder when swimming.
The camouflage gray-brown-black coat color allows the cat to remain unnoticed in the thickets of the tropical jungle.
Keeping a fishing cat in captivity
Exotic lovers should always remember that civet cats, fed from a young age and raised with love, remain wild animals. Even if you manage to raise a relatively docile person, you need to be constantly on guard. Little kittens are very playful, quickly become attached to humans, obedient and affectionate, and very vocal. At the same time, not only the timbre of their voice is striking, but also its volume and variety of sounds. Both the kitten and the adult cat are much more energetic than their domestic counterparts.
There are many nuances in raising a civet cat. A person who has never encountered keeping wild animals is unlikely to be able to raise an adequate animal without an experienced mentor.
To gain the respect and love of an animal, it is literally hand-fed from a very young age. At the same time, they do not allow you to play with your arm or leg. There are toys for games. In the process of education and weaning from unwanted behavior, you should not shout, much less hit the cat. This usually causes a negative counter-reaction: aggression or a desire for revenge.
The civet fishing cat is an exceptionally wild predator, which finds it difficult to adapt to life in captivity, even in a zoological park, let alone in an apartment or country house. The animal needs space, its own hunting territory and pond.
The civet fishing cat reaches sexual maturity at 2-3 years. This is where the biggest problems begin. First, he begins to mark the territory. It is clear that the amount of urine and its smell are in all respects superior to those of a domestic cat. Secondly, the kitten is now becoming an adult and begins to look for its place, shows aggression, wins territory and a “place in the sun.” Castration and sterilization will not be able to completely eradicate aggression and other habits that are unacceptable for a domestic cat. One of the family members may become an object of desire, and the other, on the contrary, an enemy. It is very difficult to resist the arguments of a sexually anxious animal, which also has incredible strength and sharp claws. If you plan to keep a fishing cat as a pet, it must be castrated/sterilized no later than eight months of age.
The fascination with civet cats began in 2006, when the first articles about an angler named John Davis appeared on the Internet. The cat settled in an ordinary Krasnoyarsk apartment and even acquired a personal website on which his whole life is described with many photos. The wild predator was raised from small claws. For 3 years he lived with a family and was friends with a Siberian cat. The story ended with a sad parting and the cat moving to the zoo. The problem was that the matured fisherman began to “win” the mistress from her husband.
A civet fishing cat is not the best option for an apartment or even a private house. The optimal way to keep an exotic animal is a very spacious enclosure that imitates a natural habitat, that is, with thickets and a stocked pond.
The area is fenced on all sides with a net, including from above.
In the absence of trees, be sure to make shelves at different heights or install saw cuts. Small insulated houses will be installed in one or several places. It is especially important to maintain a positive temperature in them during the cold season. Fishing cats do not tolerate frost well.
Diet
The gastronomic preferences of fishermen are very different from those of most other cats. The basis of their diet is live fish and other aquatic inhabitants: frogs, snails.
Cats hunt in several ways. In search of food, cats can wander for a long time in shallow water or wait on the shore, then with a well-aimed jump they rush at the prey; if necessary, they swim and dive for fish. It is interesting that during hunting they often resort to cunning: they stand motionless in the water and lightly touch the surface with their whiskers. This way they imitate the movement of insects and attract fish. Cats also eat birds, small mammals, rodents and carrion. On land they sometimes hunt insects. In exceptional cases, they may attack larger animals.
What to feed a fisherman at home
A cat's diet at home should be as close to natural as possible. This refers not only to the type and quantity of food, but also to the method of obtaining it. That is, the fisherman should have the opportunity to hunt fish in a body of water, catch a live mouse or gut a bird. Naturally, there will be a lot of dirt as a result of such nutrition. A civet fishing cat can accept any animals that are smaller than it for food. The daily norm is 0.2-0.5 kg of fish or meat.
Considering that the activity and energy needs of domestic cats are much lower than in nature, a hungry or semi-starved day is arranged once or twice a week. The diet is supplemented with chicken or quail eggs and fresh grass.
Habitat of the Margay cat
Margays inhabit almost all warm jungle areas of America (Panama, Ecuador, Guyana, Uruguay, Peru, Argentina). Most long-tailed margays live in central America.
Most margays live in different areas of Mexico, Ecuador and Brazil
The role of the long-tailed cat in the ecosystem
Due to the rarity of the species, it is impossible to reliably establish the role of margay in the ecosystem. However, like any other predator, the long-tailed cat affects the population of small mammals. Margai will not be able to destroy large numbers, for example, of squirrels, since the predator is quite loyal to its prey. A cat can survive without encountering squirrels at all.
The main role of margay in the ecosystem is to exterminate rodents
Health and life expectancy
There is little data on the life expectancy of fishing cats in nature. In captivity they usually live for about 10 years. The maximum recorded age of a civet cat in the zoo was 12 years. Animals in captivity are vaccinated against rabies and major infectious diseases of cats. Most diseases are associated with poor diet or living conditions that vaguely resemble natural conditions.
Where to buy a fishing cat: choice of kitten and price
The civet fishing cat, like many other wild cats, is protected and listed in Appendix II of CITIES. To avoid problems, its owners will have to obtain permission to maintain it from the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources. In many countries around the world, domestic exotics remain prohibited. In Russia there are laws that prohibit the illegal hunting of exotic and rare animals, as well as cruelty to animals, which can be considered their keeping in an apartment or house, in limited and far from natural conditions.
There is no document as such that prohibits keeping exotic animals in an apartment. Since 2021, GOST on keeping non-productive animals in urban environments has come into force, but it is only advisory. Assistance in obtaining documents for civets is sometimes provided by private individuals or nurseries that breed them.
Advertisements for the sale of fishing kittens are sometimes posted on the Internet, but they are rare. The price of a civet kitten usually ranges from 300,000-450,000 rubles.
It is less common to come across advertisements for the sale of a wyvern at a price of about 100,000 rubles. The higher the price, the further the code is from the actual natural habitat. In addition to the amount you will need to pay for the animal, you should remember that keeping a predator will not be cheap.
Manul (lat. Otocolobus manul)
Until recently, this wild, ferocious predator was practically unknown to the general public. But a few years ago, the Internet was literally filled with pictures of a dense, fluffy cat with small round ears, large yellow eyes and an incredibly evil look. Most of the photographs were accompanied by cheerful inscriptions in the manner of: “Pet the cat.” This is how the Russian-speaking Internet learned about the Pallas cat.
Photo: Anne-Marie Kalus
However, the problems of the Pallasian predator remained hidden. Pallas' cats are incredibly secretive animals that do not tolerate closeness to humans. Therefore, they have been studied rather poorly, and there is also no accurate data on their numbers. The approximate number is estimated at 9,000 – 10,000 individuals and, unfortunately, this figure is constantly decreasing. The species is listed in the International Red Book with the status “Close to Vulnerable”. Irreparable damage to the species is caused by anthropogenic factors (cultivation of fields), poaching (hundreds of poachers with animal skins are detained every year), loose keeping of dogs, as well as deterioration of the food supply. More detailed information about Pallas's cats can be found on the portal https://zamanula.ru/, the main goal of which is to ensure the safety of the species.
Pallas's cats in the Swedish zoo. Photo: Mats Elting
Incredibly fluffy and very beautiful manulas seem to be ideal candidates for the role of a pet. However, do not deceive yourself, Pallas' cats are wild, freedom-loving animals, and with a rather impudent disposition. It is almost impossible to tame them; even after living for several years next to a person, the cat will perceive any approach of pallas as a threat to its personal territory.
