This story, from 2016, is too adorable not to share. A tiny kitten was discovered wandering alone on the streets of Thailand. A family living in the neighborhood was enjoying the evening when they saw a little man on the street. Upon closer inspection, they realized that it was no ordinary cat: it didn’t look like any other kitten they had seen. The family decided to call Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), an animal rights organization, who quickly arrived to observe the animal. After careful examination, the organization concluded that the animal was a fishing cat, a special species of cat that is on the brink of extinction.
This “wild cat” can be twice the size of a normal cat and is a big fan of marine life. The cat especially likes to hunt and eat fish, hence its name.
According to Wikipedia, “The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized wild cat from South and Southeast Asia. Since 2016, it has been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Fishing cat populations are threatened by wetland destruction and have declined sharply over the past decade. Fishing cats mainly live near wetlands, along rivers, streams, stagnant lakes, in swamps and mangrove forests.
WFFT discovered the kitten had left its mother’s womb just hours before the family found it. The organization’s experts were puzzled as to how a mother could abandon her newborn in this way, which is unusual for the breed.
The family loved this rare cat and was allowed to keep it for a trial period. They decided to name the boy Simba. It is clear that the cat feels very attached to the family.
WFFT discovered the kitten had left its mother’s womb just hours before the family found it. The organization’s experts were puzzled as to how a mother could abandon her newborn in this way, which is unusual for the breed.
The family loved this rare cat and was allowed to keep it for a trial period. They decided to name the boy Simba. It is clear that the cat feels very attached to the family.
The family keeps an eye on the kitten’s mother, who they assume will appear at any moment for her baby.
Unfortunately, this never happened.
Simba was fed milk by his family and grew up to become a beautiful fishing cat.
Fortunately, he is still alive and well today, but it is extremely important that Simba continues to thrive.
According to WFFT, “poaching and revenge killing is the main cause of fishing cats’ mortality rate as high as 84% in Thailand.”
So, not only is Simba’s rescue and survival a miracle, but his existence is vital to the continuation of the race.
Animals are living creatures just like us and their existence is important for Mother Nature to continue to thrive. Please consider sharing this story if you agree!
Here is a video of other cats that have been rescued. They may not be fishing cats but they sure are cute:
