A chemosensor based on a rhodamine-hydroxamate platform containing a pyridine and a cyclen binding units has been developed for the detection of $Cd^{2+}$ in aqueous solutions. The probe responds selectively toward $Cd^{2+}$ over other biologically relevant metal ions. The fluorescent probe shows 1:1 binding stoichiometry and the detection limit for $Cd^{2+}$ in water proved to be as low as 25 nM.