-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Cd8B5W6FRT31PDHYB/QWSo8CXD9aWKEJflRLzn485f95xmNP3M9BjM5Ms0mxjLem
 ahu++k7ytd3QU3pbAkml7g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-001089.txt : 20050113
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-001089.hdr.sgml : 20050113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050113121103
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-001089
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050113
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050113

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TWEET OLE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001244340

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18607
		FILM NUMBER:		05527480

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARCTIC CAT INC
		STREET 2:		601 BROOKS AVENUE SOUTH
		CITY:			THIEF RIVER FALLS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			56701

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARCTIC CAT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000719866
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT [3790]
		IRS NUMBER:				411443470
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 BROOKS AVE SOUTH
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 810
		CITY:			THIEF RIVER FALLS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			56701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2186818558

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ARCTCO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940224
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000719866</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARCTIC CAT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACAT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001244340</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TWEET OLE E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>601 BROOKS AVE S</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 810</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THIEF RIVER FALLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>56701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP - Product Development</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>61597</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ole Tweet</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----