The bobcat is a small cat whose habitat ranges from southern Canada to central Mexico. Bobcats are adaptable cats that thrive in most areas, including wooded areas, semi deserts, urban edges, and swamplands. There are currently 13 different subspecies of bobcats recognized. Some are listed as endangered with localized extinction in some areas. Bobcats get their name from their short, ‘bobbed’ tail. The tail of a cat is a good indicator of what the cat is good at. A longer tail is helpful for balance, so those cats who spend time in trees or run quickly after their prey, need longer tails for balance. A cat with a shorter tail is good at jumping straight up and ambushing their prey instead, because they don’t have a tail long enough to help them balance.
Lifespan
Bobcats in the wild live between 7 and 10 years and can live up to 20 years in captivity.
Shape & Size
Adult bobcats range in size from 18.7 to 49.2 inches long with a short, stubby tail that is only between 3.5 to 7.9 inches long. An average male will weigh around 21 pounds and average female around 15 pounds.
Color Pattern
Bobcats typically have a coat color ranging from gray to brown with a whiskered face and black tufted ears. The tufts of hair on top of their ears do not extend very far, like they do on the caracal. Bobcats have dark, visible spots on their white bellies.
Behavior
Bobcats are mainly crepuscular, meaning they are more active at dawn and dusk when their prey tends to be more active. Bobcats are solitary cats that will hunt small prey on their own. During winter months, bobcats will become more diurnal, meaning they are more active during the day, because their prey becomes more active during that time of the year.
Habitat
Bobcats are very adaptive and can live in a variety of habitats, including wooded areas, swamplands, and even in urban areas.
Principal Threats
The principal threat to the bobcat is habitat loss. They also are killed by farmers in retaliation for killing their livestock.
Lynx rufus
Range Map
Range
Bobcats can be found all over the United States up into southern Canada and down into Mexico.
Bobcats primarily eat rabbits and hares, small rodents, and occasionally livestock, such as goats or sheep. They are, however, capable of taking down prey as large as small deer. If they kill a deer, they will often return to it over the course of a couple days and continue to feed on it.
Female bobcats give birth to typically 2 to 4 kittens after 60 to 70 days of gestation. The kittens stay with their mothers for about the first year then venture out on their own.
Bobcats are solitary cats that are highly adaptable. They are found in rural and urban areas alike and, as long as there is suitable habitat with plenty of prey, they will make themselves at home. Bobcats can often be heard at night fighting with rivals or other animals and many people report that it sounds like a woman’s scream.
Bobcats are currently listed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List, though some of the subspecies are becoming locally extinct due to habitat loss.
Fun Facts
- Bobcats are named for their short tail that appears to be "bobbed"
- Bobcats are the most abundant wild cat in the United States and have the widest range of all North American cats
- Bobcats can jump over 10 feet to pounce on their prey
- Despite their size, bobcats are able to take down small deer as prey
