Wild cats are members of the Felidae (cat) family. Many Felidae species, especially domestic cats, dislike water. However, quite a few big, medium-sized, and small wild cats are skilled swimmers. You can find them cooling off in the water, traveling from one location to another, playing, bathing, and hunting.
Here is our list of the top 15 wild cat swimmers.
Big cats that swim
Big cats are the largest members of the Felidae family. The biggest cats that can swim include the tiger, jaguar, and leopard.
Wild tigers live in southern Asia, China, and eastern Russia. They are highly skilled swimmers, often found in jungles with wide rivers. Because of their strong, muscular bodies and webbed paws, they can swim for several miles and have even been seen swimming in ocean water from one island to another. Tigers range in size from 6 to 10 feet and weigh 220 to over 600 lbs.
Jaguars can be found in 19 countries throughout the Americas. Their habitats often include rivers and lakes. Not only can jaguars swim long distances, but they will play and bathe in the water and hunt for caiman, fish, and turtles. Jaguars are 5 to 8 feet long from head to tail and weigh between 80 and 350 lbs. They also have webbing between their paws to make it easier for them to swim.
Another big cat that swims is the leopard. You can find wild leopards in Africa, India, Java, Myanmar, Tibet, Indonesia, the Arabian Peninsula, Turkey, the Caucasus, the Iranian Plateau, the western Himalayas, and the Russian Far East. Like the jaguar, leopards can swim across rivers and large bodies of water. They will also hunt in the water, preying on fish and crabs. Leopards are 36 – 72 inches long with large paws.
Honorable Mentions
Here are some big cats who aren’t water lovers, but won’t shy away from swimming if it’s the fastest way to get from one place to another.
You won’t find lions swimming on a regular basis, but they will occasionally travel across rivers and streams. Lions are big cats that inhabit Africa. There is also a small population of lions in India. Male lions are between 5.6 and 8.3 feet long, and weigh between 330 to 570 lbs.
Cheetahs don’t like the water very much, but they will cross streams and rivers when necessary. You can find cheetahs in Africa. There is also a small population in Iran. Male cheetahs are around 3.5 to 5 feet in length, and they weigh between 50 and 160 lbs.
The cougar (mountain lion, puma) is another competent swimmer. Some have even been seen traveling long distances in the water. They cross rivers and other bodies of water in their own territory, and to find new territory, mates, and food. Male cougars range in size from 4 to over 6 feet long and weigh between 115 and 220 lbs.
Even though snow leopards have long, heavy fur, they have been photographed swimming across rivers, including the Pin River (a tributary of the Spiti, in the Pin Vally, India), a river in Kyrgyzstan, and the Tongtian River in the Qinghai Province of northwest China. Snow leopards are mostly found in mountainous regions. Males are 6 to 7 feet long and weigh between 55 to 165 lbs.
The Medium-sized wild cats that swim
The clouded leopard, Sunda clouded leopard, fishing cat, ocelot and African serval are medium-sized wild cats that can swim. The average domestic cat is around 18 inches long. Medium-sized wild cats are generally twice the size of a regular house cat.
Clouded leopards and Sunda clouded leopards are skilled swimmers. The clouded leopard can be found in the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, and South China, while the Sunda clouded leopard inhabits the Island of Borneo. It is believed the clouded leopard used their ability to swim to populate Borneo and other islands. They are not only great swimmers but also excellent climbers. Male clouded leopards range in size from 26 to 41 inches.
The fishing cat inhabits the southern parts of Asia and is one of the best-known wild cat swimmers. They inhabit various regions in Asia, mostly in areas with a lot of water, like marshes, swamps, and riverbeds. Fishing cats have webbed paws, but not as webbed as leopard cats. Fishing cats live near the water and can swim for long distances, including underwater. Their diet mainly consists of fish, but they also eat rodents, reptiles, insects, and birds. They dive into the water to catch their prey. Male fishing cats are 33 to 45 inches in length.
The Jaguarundi, also known as the otter cat, is another competent swimmer. This medium-sized wild cat will not only swim but even dive to catch fish and hunt for amphibians. You cna find jaguarundi in northen Mexico, and Central and South America east of the Andes. They are secretive wild cats that usually lead a solitary life, but have also been seen living in pairs. Male jaguarundi are between 21 and 30 inches long, with a 12 to 20 inch tail. The average weight of a jaguarundi s 7.5 to 15.5 lbs.
The ocelot is a medium-sized wild cat that inhabits the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central, and South America. It can also be found in the Caribbean islands (Trinidad and Margarita). Ocelots are adept swimmers who hunt fish and frogs, as well as rabbits, rodents, iguanas, monkeys, and birds. Male ocelots are 29 to 39 inches long.
The serval is a wild cat found in Africa. Servals are competent swimmers who prefer wetlands and places near water where grasses and reeds provide coverage. The serval can jump up to 10 feet in the air and will leap into the water to catch prey like frogs. Male servals are 21 to 24 inches long.
Small wild cat swimmers
Small wild cats range in size from 14 to 19 inches in length (rusty-spotted cat) to the size of a domestic cat or a little larger. Small wild cats that swim include the flat-headed cat and leopard cat.
The flat-headed cat is a small wild cat closely related to the fishing cat, but only 16 to 20 inches long. It can be found on the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Borneo, where it inhabits wetlands like swamps, flooded forests, lakes, and streams. The flat-headed cat preys on frogs, fish, and crustaceans.
Leopard cats are amazing swimmers. Their toes have more webbing than domestic cats’, which makes it easier for them to swim. They are often found near water and frequently cross it. Leopard cats inhabit southeast, eastern, and southern Asia.
Geoffroy’s Cat
Leopardus geoffroyi
Geoffroy’s cats are considered really good swimmers. They are in the water quite a bit and are often observed swimming in large fast-flowing rivers. You can find the Geoffroy’s cat in the southern and central regions of South America. Like most small wild cats, it’s around the size of a domestic cat.
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