Family Spots Lonely Kitten On Street, Comes Closer, And Realizes He Is Not What They Thought

Emma Ackerman
Sep 05, 2023
Sep 07, 2023

In Thailand, a family looked out of their window one day and saw a tiny kitten all alone in the street. But as they took a closer look, they began to suspect that this little furball was no ordinary house kitten. So concerned for the little animal’s condition, they reached out to the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) for assistance.

Source: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

The WFFT rescue team arrived quickly and determined that this kitten was more special than they had initially thought. It turned out the rescued animal wasn't your typical domestic cat; it belonged to a rare species known as the "fishing cat," which is native to Southeast Asia and facing the threat of extinction.

Source: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

Source: SHUTTERSTOCK

The WFFT expressed their initial surprise, saying, "We were rather suspicious as to why the kitten had been found without its mother." However, upon closer examination, they were shocked to find that this tiny fishing cat kitten had been born only a few hours ago.

Source: safi kok

Source: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

After that, it was revealed that the family that had discovered the kitten was familiar with this rare species. They explained that the kitten's mother was once a rescued animal they had found in a nearby rice field. They had nurtured her into adulthood and then released her back into the wild.

However, because she felt safe with this family, she occasionally returned to visit them. It was suspected that she felt secure enough to give birth to a litter of kittens near their home. Unfortunately, when the family spotted her this time, she was in the process of moving her newborns to a safer location and had accidentally left one of them on the road.

Source: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

Source: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

The family patiently waited for her return, but it seemed that she was occupied with the rest of her litter and must have forgotten about the little one left behind. Concerned for the kitten's well-being, the family contacted the WFFT, which found the tiny feline "very cold and in urgent need of some milk." The rescue team wasted no time in taking the kitten to the WFFT Wildlife Hospital, where a compassionate veterinarian held him close to his chest to keep him warm.

Source: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

Source: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

This special kitten was named Simba, and his survival has a big meaning not only for his own sake but also for the sake of his endangered species.

Due to habitat loss and conflicts between people and wildlife, the fishing cat is currently facing an imminent threat of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the fishing cat as vulnerable to extinction. In Thailand, the population of these rare cats has seen a significant decline in recent years, with a staggering 84 percent of monitored fishing cats being killed or dying, largely due to hunting and habitat destruction, within just three years.

Source: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

This highlights why it's crucial to enforce laws and protections to ensure the survival of this endangered animal. Those who live in areas where fishing cats are found should be aware of the situation and contact the nearest animal organization for help when necessary.

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