This story from 2016 is just too adorable not to share. One evening in Thailand, a family out for a stroll spotted a tiny kitten wandering the streets all by itself.
As they got closer, they realized this wasn’t just any kitten—it was unlike any other they had seen before. Curious and concerned, they reached out to the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT). The foundation quickly sent a representative to check on the little cat.
After a thorough examination, the researchers made an amazing discovery. The kitten was a fishing cat, a rare and endangered species.
Fishing cats are wild cats that can grow to be twice the size of a regular house cat and have a special love for water. They got their name because they are excellent at hunting and eating fish.
Wikipedia describes the fishing cat, or Prionailurus viverrinus, as a medium-sized wild cat found in South and Southeast Asia. Since 2016, it has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
The population of fishing cats has dropped dramatically over the last decade, mainly due to the destruction of wetlands. Their main habitats include marshes, mangroves, oxbow lakes, rivers, and streams.
When the family found the kitten, WFFT discovered it was only a few hours old. The experts were puzzled about how such a tiny kitten ended up alone, without its mother, especially since this was unusual for the species.
The family quickly fell in love with the unique kitten and was allowed to keep him for a trial period. They named him Simba. It was clear that Simba felt a strong bond with his new family.
The family hoped that Simba’s mother would return to look for her baby, so they kept a close watch. Sadly, she never came back.
Instead, the family cared for Simba, feeding him and watching him grow into a beautiful fishing cat. Simba is still alive and well today, but it’s vital for his ongoing development that he receives proper care.
According to WFFT, the main reasons for the high 84% mortality rate of fishing cats in Thailand are poaching and retaliatory killing. Simba’s rescue and survival are not just amazing but also crucial for the survival of his species.
You can watch another video with more rescued cats here. Even though these cats aren’t fishermen, they are still incredibly cute:
Animals are living beings, just like humans, and mother nature relies on their existence. If you agree, please consider sharing this heartwarming story!
