The crystal structure of the title complex, [Cd(tsac)2(H2O)], has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c (a = 12.236(3), b = 8.919(3), c = 16.655(3) A, β = 96.18(2)°, Z = 4). The molecular structure was solved from 1705 independent reflections with I > σ(I) and refined to R1 = 0.0489. Infrared and Raman spectra of the complex were recorded and are briefly discussed. Its thermal behaviour was investigated by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis.