This story from 2016 is just too adorable not to share. A tiny baby kitten has been spotted roaming the streets of Thailand on its own. A family living in the neighborhood was enjoying their evening when they noticed the little guy on the street.
Upon closer inspection, they realized that it was no ordinary cat: it didn’t look like any of the other kittens they had seen. The family decided to call Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), an animal organization, who quickly showed up to have a look at the animal.
After careful examination, the organization concluded that this animal was a fishing cat, a particular species of cat in danger of extinction.
This “wildcat” can grow to twice the size of a normal cat and is a big fan of marine life. The cat particularly likes to hunt and eat fish, hence its name.
According to Wikipedia, “The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverririnus) is a medium-sized wild cat native to South and Southeast Asia. Since 2016, it has been classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Fishing cat populations are threatened by the destruction of wetlands and declined severely over the last decade. Fishing cats mainly live near wetlands, along rivers, streams, oxbow lakes, in swamps and mangroves.”
WFFT discovered the kitten left its mother’s womb just hours before the family found him. The organization’s specialists were amazed at how a mother could abandon her newborn in such a way, which is unusual for the breed.
The family took a liking to this rare cat and was allowed to keep it for a trial period. They decided to name him Simba. It was obvious that the cat was very attached to the family.
The family was still searching for the kitten’s mother, who they believed would show up for their child at any moment.
Unfortunately, that never happened.
Instead, Simba was fed milk by the family and grew into a beautiful fishing cat.
Luckily, he’s alive and well so far, but it’s extremely important that Simba stays safe.
According to WFFT, “poaching and retribution k-i.lling were the major causes for a high Fishing Cat mortality of 84% in Thailand.”
So, not only is it a miracle that Simba was rescued and survived — his existence is vital for the continuation of his breed.
Here’s a video showing other cats who have been rescued. These might not be fishing cats but they sure are cute:
Animals are living creatures just like us and their existence is important for Mother Nature to continue to flourish.
Source: Newsner