Bobcat facts, pictures and information. The bobcat is a stealthy, mid-sized predator that inhabits woodlands and forests in North America. Although the bobcat can take down animals several times its size, it usually preys on rabbits and other small mammals.
Let's find out more about this fearsome felid ...
Bobcat Facts At A Glance
- Other Name(s): Bay Lynx
- Scientific name: Lynx rufus
- Type of Animal: Mammal, Carnivoran
- Animal Family: Felidae
- Where Found: Mexico, United States, Southern Canada
- Length:5 - 125 cm (18.7 - 49.2 in)
- Shoulder Height: 46 - 64 cm (18 - 24 in)
- Weight: Males: 6.4 - 18.3 kg (14 - 40 lb.); Females: 4 to 15.3 kg (8.8 to 33.7 lb.)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
Other interesting Bobcat facts
- In the U.S. there are more bobcats than any other type of wild cat.
- The bobcat can run at speeds of up to 30 mph (48 km/h).
Bobcat Video
Watch the video below to see YouTube animal expert Coyote Peterson come face to face with a bobcat.
Scroll further down the page to see amazing footage of bobcat kittens!
Meet The Bobcat: Introduction
The bobcat is one of four cats in the genus Lynx, the others being the Canada lynx (the only other lynx found in the Americas), the Eurasian lynx (the largest lynx) and the endangered Iberian lynx. The bobcat is the smallest lynx, being slightly smaller than the Canada lynx.
The lynxes are members of the family Felidae, otherwise known as the cat family.
How To Identify A Bobcat
The bobcat is unmistakably feline, with a flat face, long whiskers, large eyes and stealthy walk. It is around twice the size of a domestic cat. The legs are long, and the tail short; the bobcat gets its name from its ‘bobbed’ tail.
Coat color ranges from buff to brown. The coats of some individuals have a reddish tinge. The coat is marked with various patterns of black / dark brown stripes and spots. The undersides are white with black spots; the inside legs are white with black stripes.
Like all lynxes, the bobcat has tufts of black fur at the tips of its ears. On the back of each ear is a white spot – a characteristic shared with several other cat species.
The bobcat’s front legs are shorter than its back legs, giving the cat a ‘downwardly sloped’ appearance and a slightly bobbing gait.
Like all cats, the bobcat ‘directly registers’ when walking. This means that the hind paw touches the ground at the place just vacated by the corresponding forepaw. This reduces the amount of sound made by the cat as it is walking.
Bobcat Vs Domestic Cat
The bobcat is around twice the size of a domestic cat. Its legs are proportionally longer. The bobcat’s ear tufts and bobbed tail also differentiate the wild cat from its domestic cousin.
Bobcat Vs Lynx
The bobcat is slightly smaller than its close relative the Canada lynx. Although there is some overlap in the ranges of the two species, the bobcat is generally found in temperate regions, whereas the lynx is found further north, often in regions that are covered in snow for much of the year.
The Canada lynx has longer legs and bigger paws than the bobcat. These are both adaptations for walking in (or on) the snow. Its tail is even shorter than that of a bobcat. The larger cat also has insulating fur on the pads of its feet, whereas the bobcat’s pads are bare. The lynx's ear tufts are longer than those of the bobcat.
It is thought that the bobcat evolved from Eurasian Lynxes that entered North America via the Bering Land Bridge and who were subsequently cut off by glaciers.
The Canada lynx is thought to have evolved from a later influx of Eurasian Lynxes.
Bobcat Size
As is the case with most cats, the male bobcat, with an average weight of 9.6 kg (21 lb.), is significantly larger than the female, who has an average weight 6.8 kg (15 lb.).
The species has evolved so that the role of the male is to maintain a territory and compete with other males, whereas the female takes sole responsibility for protecting and feeding the kittens.
Where Does The Bobcat Live?
The bobcat is found throughout most of the United States and much of Mexico. Its range extends as far south as the state of Oaxaca in Mexico. The species is also present in southern Canada, but not in Alaska.
Bobcat Habitat
The bobcat is able to adapt to a wide range of habitats. Typical bobcat habitat is woodland, especially that with dense ground cover and abundant prey. The species is also found in forests, scrublands, grasslands, mountainous areas, swamps and deserts.
Bobcats are less likely to be found in highly cultivated areas. They also stay away from roads. Although the species will occasionally venture into suburban areas, in general it stays away from humans.
Bobcat Facts: Behavior
The bobcat is mainly crepuscular (active at dawn and at dusk), but can be seen at any time of the day (or night).
Like most cats, the bobcat is generally solitary and territorial. The male’s territory ranges in size from 8 sq. mi (21 km2) to 40 sq. mi (104 km2), and is 2 to 5 times larger than the female’s. A male bobcat’s territory usually encompasses the territory of two or more females.
There can be some overlap between the territories of neighboring males. In contrast, a female bobcat is fiercely territorial, and will prevent other females from entering her territory.
The bobcat marks its territory with scent and by leaving scratch marks in the ground and on trees. As it patrols its territory, the bobcat will leave scent marks in its urine and scat (droppings). It will also scent mark trees.
A cat’s claws are designed both for capturing prey and for climbing. The bobcat is an excellent climber, and will climb trees both to hunt and also to evade predators.
Bobcat Diet
The bobcat is an adaptable predator, capable of capturing a wide range of mainly mammalian prey. It will capture any small or mid-sized animal it can overcome.
Rabbits and hares are the bobcat’s most common prey. Other mammals, such as squirrels, foxes, minks and cotton rats are also taken, as are birds and reptiles. The bobcat will also occasionally take larger prey such as deer, and is capable of bringing down animals up to eight times its weight.
Bobcats living close to towns may prey on domestic dogs and cats, and they have also been known to take farm animals such as sheep and goats.
The bobcat is a patient hunter. It relies on stealth, creeping up on a potential victim while its back is turned. When close enough, the bobcat will pounce on its victim and deliver a fatal bite to the animal’s neck.
The bobcat’s canine teeth are spaced to fit between the prey animal’s vertebrae. Nerves in the teeth enable the cat to deliver a bite to exactly the right spot.
Bobcat Life Cycle
Watch the video below to see amazing footage of a bobcat mother and her kittens:
Mating takes place during the winter and spring. The male will mate with all of the females in his territory. After mating, he will play no further part in the rearing of his young.
Kittens are usually born in April or May, around 9 to 10 weeks after mating. The female gives birth in a sheltered area such as a cave, a hollow tree or in thick vegetation. Litters can range in size from 1 to 6 kittens, but typically 2 to 4 kittens are born.
Newborn bobcats are blind and totally reliant on their mother for food. Their eyes open after 9 to 10 days. They are nursed for 2 months, after which time they begin to accompany their mother on hunting trips. They usually leave her care by winter, in time for the next mating season.
Female bobcats become sexually mature after their first year. Males become sexually mature after two years.
Bobcat Predators
Although it doesn’t sit at the very top of the food chain, an adult bobcat is – for its size – a formidable opponent with few predators. Species that have been recorded attacking and killing bobcats include grey wolves, coyotes and pumas.
Bobcat kittens are less able to defend themselves, and may also fall victim to birds of prey such as eagles and owls.
Is The Bobcat Endangered?
The bobcat is widespread and abundant throughout much of its range. Its conservation status is ‘Least Concern’. Although habitat loss and over-hunting can lead to local declines, the global population is stable.
Bobcat Facts: Related Pages
- Interested in cats? Check out this amazing list of every wild cat species in the world, with pictures and facts: Wild Cats List
- Is the bobcat a big cat? Find out here: What Is A Big Cat?
- Find out more about mammals here: Mammals: The Ultimate Guide
- Become an animal expert: Animals: The Ultimate Guide
We were working in our yard and a smaller bobcat just stared at us. For about 10 minutes. He or she just stood about 20 feet away and just sat there. Definitely a bobcat with those ears! I felt like it was a sightseeing gift. But after doing research, will not let my small dog outside free roaming anymore.
Could you see its tail?
Bobcats have short tails, hence the name Bob Cat for a bobbed tail.
Did you see any spots on it, perhaps on the legs?
A Bobcat has spots on the legs & sometimes body. A Maine Coon cat seems to have bobcat in its breeding from their beginning. They started out in Maine, USA. People have them as house cats now. They are large and it may have been a Maine Coon that you saw, which has a long tail. This would explain why it wasn’t so afraid of you.
Hello, do you think a Bob Cat will go after a horse? I saw a large brown one with black spots just hanging out in my horses pasture in the middle of the day! I hissed at him/her with a pitch fork and it ran off. We have seen grays on occasion here too. We have 7 acres with woods and tons of squirrels close in Scappoose, OR. I’m sure there’s plenty of food, but not liking the idea that it’s so close to my horse & where I trail ride occasionally. I don’t want to hunt or trap, just want to be safe. Any advice? Thanks Susan
Hi Susan,
Thank you for your question. A bobcat would never normally attack a horse, especially if natural prey is available.
Smaller domestic animals such as goats and sheep are occasionally targeted by bobcats, but even that is unusual.
We hope this helps!
The Active Wild Team.
You’ve seen Grays, as in Gray Wolves?
If your horse is large, the Bobcat is not a concern. Cougars , several Coyotes, and wolves are definitely a concern. The bobcat can take down a full grown deer, however I don’t know if they often do. I understand your concern. Something got my horse while he was laying down next to the fence, probably sleeping. In the struggle, his hoof got caught under the barbed wire which was tight to the ground, below the goat fence. It’s believed it must’ve been a cougar.
Just saw a bobcat this morning, got a great picture. Live in a neighborhood but lots of woods around in Sebring,Florida. This is the second one I have seen in the past few years. Heard a growling sound and looked over toward woods, there he was. Lots of bunnies and squirrel in the area.
Hi,
That’s fantastic! Sound like he’s got plenty of food available!
Thank you for sharing your sighting.
Regards,
The Active Wild Team
The grown males are larger than the females. He was growling because his kits were near. They are typically born May to June. The kits would be newborn to 1 1/2 months old. That should be the only time they growl at humans, unless cornered or trapped.
Have there been any bobcat sightings in north Florida ? I think I saw one.
Hi,
Thank you for your question.
Yes, the bobcat is present in Florida. If the animal you saw had a short tail and was significantly (2x) larger than a house cat, then it was probably a bobcat.
Regards,
The Active Wild team
I need to identify a patch of hair found on top on my chicken coop. I live in lake county Fla. It was caught in the wire and found yesterday. I have young chickens and a new reconstruced coop. 2 months ago my 5 hens were killed 1at a time every 2-3 days. I think it was a Bobcat because of the way it killed 1and not all at same time. Plus it entered through the top side by pulling on wire. It took a very persistent animal to do this. They worked on it for weeks on and off. We have 10 Acer’s and lots of lakes and groves around. Please help me. I have pics of the hair patch.
Could be 1 or 2 Raccoons. It doesn’t matter, because you just need to put a metal roof on it or something really strong. You can ask other Chicken raisers. I joined “Backyard Chickens” on FB. They love giving you their ideas.
Don’t kill. Animals are only wanting to eat to survive. They are part of the whole eco system. They have their place in nature, they are needed. If nothing else, you could raise rabbits bcuz they multiply really fast, set them free, giving wildlife an everlasting abundance of food. I’d get brown rabbits so they look more wild. You don’t really want white rabbits with pink eyes in the wild.
Get 1 buck & several does.
You can get a Great Pyrenees or any of many dog breeds that love to keep predators at bay. Just be sure it is used to being around & protecting animals.
It could be a German Shepherd or Shepherd mix.
You need a good fenced area, at least around your coop, for the dog. Actually, a dog other than a Pyrenees is best, as they love to escape & wander.
Least expensive, perhaps, is an electric fence set up properly, so a predator cannot get through or jump over.
I love bobcats question what about bobcat babies
In the summer of 2020 a bobcat strolled through the periphery of our back yard in Sunapee NH. I was up early, around 530, getting ready for work and was having coffee and looking over the yard. Big. Really big cat. Like I thought “why is there a mountain lion / puma / tiger / cougar in my back yard”. 😂 I wish there was a way post the video I took.
It’s always a privilege to be visited by one of these wild animals – thank you for telling us about it. Perhaps you could put the video on YouTube?
Regards,
The Active Wild Team
I live on a wooded creek lot in a neighborhood. Newcomers ask, “Where do these Coyotes & Bobcats come from?! I reply, “We are the newcomers, they were already here, now people are pushing them out, but they have nowhere else to go.” Each pair of Hawks, Owls, Coyotes, Bobcats, Wolf pack, need their own large hunting territory.
I see the bobcats somewhat often and used to see the coyotes quite often. Unfortunately, some people complain about the coyotes to the dog pound and saw the DOG POUND traps them in Kelso. Very sad and very wrong. Sorry to say something negative, but this is fact with Garland, Texas. We must stop the senseless killing of these beautiful animals & even animals some don’t see as beautiful. Everyone has a right to live ☺️
GAH i need too find bobcat apdaptations
We live on an isolated ridge with open fields surrounded by woods in eastern Tennessee. We’ve seen bobcats several times. Once, towards dusk, we saw two together. I sleep with a window wide open in winter, no matter how cold. One early morning, I heard crunching in the snow and leaves right outside that window. My husband was snoring loudly. I quietly went over to the window: There was a bobcat crouched next to our front door stair! Rabbits hide under there. I must have made a noise, because suddenly, the cat was gone. We saw tracks later that morning when it was light. Is this unusual, coming so close to the house with snoring going on? And why do they screech? We heard screeching last night til the dog barked.
Dear Betsy,
What a wonderful experience – thank you for telling us about it. The vocalisations you hear are probably mating calls – either from a female hoping to attract males, or by rival males sizing each other up.
Although bobcats prefer uninhabited areas, they will live at the edges of urban areas and are sometimes seen in backyards. We don’t know how loudly your husband snores, but it seems not loud enough to deter bobcats! 🙂
Thank you again for your comment,
The Active Wild Team
Yes, a half grown Bobby ran up into our deck, mid morning or noonish, chasing the neighbors black cat up the big tree at the middle of the deck. The deck had been built around it in the ‘70’s.
The bobcat gave up and came back down, since the cap was a lot smaller and so it was quicker than tree.
I have seen them walk through the backyard, which is on a wooded creek in a neighborhood. At one time, this was all farmland. Their ancestors always roamed here. They have no place else to go. I’d love to see them. They are very beautiful. I also love to see the coyotes.
Do young bob cats have black rings on their tail.
Hi Mary,
Coloration and markings vary from individual to individual. Judging by the pictures we’ve seen (sadly we don’t get bobcats in England), some young bobcats do have black rings on their tails.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
The Active Wild Team
We saw one last Sunday near our house in Conway, NH. We likely wouldn’t have seen it, but for the large amount of snow we have. It crossed the road and stopped and looked back at us for a few seconds. It was so exciting for both my husband and I to see. I think I may know where all the squirrels have gone! Thanks for the great article.
Hi Alexandra,
What a wonderful experience! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Regards,
The Active Wild Team