The bobcat, with its fluffy cheeks, pointy ear tufts, and short tail, is the most common wild cat in North America.
There are millions of bobcats ranging from Mexico to southern Canada. But you may have trouble spotting one because these cats are elusive, solitary, and most active at night.
Bobcat vs. Lynx
Bobcats are often confused with other types of lynxes (Canadian lynx, Iberian lynx and Eurasian lynx). But bobcats are the smallest of the lynxes, measuring 65-105 cm (25-42 in.) long and weighing between 4-15 kg (9-33 lb.).
They also differ from other lynxes because they have black spots on reddish-brown fur, shorter ear tufts, and their footpads are bare. Other lynxes have plain gray coats and broader hairy feet that act like snowshoes.
How Bobcats Move
Bobcats may roam 3-11 km (2-7 mi) per night. When they walk, they place their back feet in the same tracks as their front feet in order to reduce noise.
Bobcats are excellent jumpers, pouncing on their prey and killing them with one bite. In fact, bobcats can jump as high as 3 m (10 ft.) and as far as 3.5 m (12 ft.)!
They are also skilled at climbing trees and rocky ledges.
In addition, they’re fast runners, reaching speeds of 48 km/hr (30 mph). Bobcats can even swim well too!
What Bobcats Eat
For the most part, bobcats prey upon cottontail rabbits and hares, but they also eat squirrels, mice, snakes, lizards, dogs, cats, sheep, poultry, and even small deer.
Hunting from dusk to dawn, bobcats have excellent night vision and a good sense of smell.
Bobcat Territories
Bobcats live in forests, coastal swamps, deserts and scrublands.
They are territorial animals and mark their territories by spraying urine and leaving feces.
Female bobcats have territories that span 13 sq. km (5 sq. mi.) while male bobcat territories span 78 sq. km (30 sq. mi.).
A male bobcat’s territory may overlap with several female bobcat territories, but female bobcats will not overlap territories with each other.
Bobcat Dens
Bobcats sleep in dens. Usually they have several dens in their territory, which they make in caves, rock shelters, or tree hollows.
They spray urine at the entrances to discourage intruders.
Communication
In addition to scent marking, bobcats communicate by chortling and chirping.
During the mating season, which is late February to late March, they let out high-pitched screams in order to find mates.
Bobcat Reproduction
In May, bobcats give birth to 1-6 kittens. The kittens stay in the den for the first two months.
The mother bobcat will start bringing them prey at the end of the first month. Then in the next several months, she’ll teach them how to hunt, while still providing them with food.
After 8-12 months, the kittens leave to find their own territories. Bobcats live for 10-15 years in the wild.
In general, adult bobcats have no predators, except for humans. Juvenile bobcats can fall prey to eagles, great horned owls, coyotes, foxes, and bears.
Conservation Status
The bobcat is listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN Red List. Their numbers have been estimated as high as 3.5 million in the United States alone, with populations stable everywhere except Florida.
In Florida, their population is decreasing due to predation by invasive Burmese pythons. Though interestingly, in recent years, bobcats have been recorded eating Burmese python eggs.
Humans pose the biggest threat to bobcats though. People hunt bobcats for their fur, and they develop land which breaks up bobcats’ territories.
What You Can Do to Help
If you’d like to help bobcats, don’t buy products made of bobcat fur. You should also refrain from using rodenticides because bobcats often eat rodents who have ingested these harmful chemicals.
Bobcat Range
More Bobcat Resources
- National Zoo: Bobcat
- National Geographic Kids: Bobcat
- Nature Conservancy: Bobcat
- Treehugger: 8 Fascinating Facts About Bobcats
- Kaplan, Matt. “Bobcats With a Taste for Python Eggs Might Be the Guardians of Florida’s Swamp.” New York Times. March 28, 2022
Quick Fact Sheet
Common Name(s): Bobcat
Scientific Name: Lynx rufus
Animal Type: mammal
Size: 65-105 cm (25-42 in.) long
Weight: 4-15 kg (9-33 lb.)
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Conservation Status: Least Concern
About the Author
Abi Cushman is a contributing editor of Animal Fact Guide and My House Rabbit. When she's not writing about weird animal facts, Abi writes and illustrates funny books for kids. Her picture books, Soaked! and Animals Go Vroom!, are available now from Viking Children's Books.
To learn more and to download free activity sheets, visit www.abicushman.com. Follow her on Instagram at @Abi.Cushman.
