Our staff drove to Michigan to help rescue 4 exotic cats from Even Keel Exotics, a facility with a long list of violations of the Animal Welfare Act and Endangered Species Act. They include 2 caracals, a fishing cat, and a young serval.
Even Keel Exotics was an exotic animal dealer who bought, sold, traded and exploited animals through paid animal encounters. Sadly, he offered encounters with young animals that had been taken from their
mothers at just days and weeks old.
In all, 142 animals were seized and sent to reputable facilities where they will receive the compassionate care they deserve.
Thankfully, this facility has now been permanently closed down by authorities.
Since 2014, USDA inspection reports cite an astonishing 74 violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including animals being deprived of water and denied veterinary care.
Inspectors found animals living in cramped, filthy cages that didn’t even provide adequate shelter from inclement weather.
Our staff were one of the first teams onsite and safely removed the cats housed there. They saw cages that were barren and dirty. Luckily, these four cats are all under 3.5 years old and resilient.
Life at the Sanctuary
Sushi was mother raised, so she’s not very social to people. But after her arrival, she was very confident, coming up to caretakers for her food and soon learned to eat from their tongs. We’ve already got her enjoying fish for the first time!
Being a fishing cat, she’ll hopefully love water, but hasn’t explored her pools just yet. It’s going to take her some time to learn she’s a fishing cat. She’s never been given that chance before.
Sushi’s very nocturnal which is consistent with fishing cats in the wild. She loves being in high or covered places. We love seeing how independent she is and that she has some spice!
Sushi will have an intake exam, deworming, vaccines and eventually be spayed. And we’ll be building her a very species-specific habitat that will allow her to stretch her wild side. We can’t wait to see her learn how to be a fishing cat after all!
How You Can Help
Sushi will have many years ahead of her here at the sanctuary. The day of rescue is just day one of a long lifetime of care costs.
One of the best ways to help is by becoming her sponsor parent. Or, another way is with a one time donation toward her care. It’s easy to do using the buttons at the top of this page. Thank you!
Fishing Cat Facts
- The Fishing cat is the state animal of West Bengal. The Fishing cat currently is found in south and Southeast Asia
- Fishing cats are most closely related to Pallas cats, rusty-spotted cats, leopard cats and flat-headed cats.
- Unlike many cat species, fishing cats readily swim. Their front toes are partially webbed, and their claws protrude slightly even when retracted, an adaptation for fishing. Their round, elongated head is also adapted for diving.
- Fishing cats in captivity have been seen taking cow’s meat to the water, dropping it in, and then taking it out and eating it. When offered live quail, this same washing behavior was observed.
- Fishing cats may look cute and cuddly but they can be very aggressive.
- A cat’s ear contains 32 muscles and can rotate almost 180 degrees, so without turning its head, it is able to hear in several directions.
- When it swims, the Fishing cat is able to use its flattened, short tail like a rudder, to help control its direction.
- The Fishing cat hunts by patting the water to make tiny waves as if insects were landing on the water. Fish are attracted to this. When fish appear, the Fishing cat catches them in its paws or dives into the water to catch them.
- A significant difference between the Fishing cat and its relatives is that its claws do not fully retract, the tips remaining to stick out a little from the sheath of skin they have on their toes, whereas most cats can retract their claws completely when they are not using them, in order to stop them from becoming blunt.
More information on Fishing cats can be found at: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/fishing-cat
