A medium-sized North American wild cat with tufted ears and the short, "bobbed" tail that gives it its name. It is adaptable, living in woods, semi-desert, swamps and the edges of towns, and is territorial and mostly solitary.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?Can be
It keeps out of sight, and attacks on people happen only on rare occasions.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Night
Mostly nocturnal, and often out at dusk as well.
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inNorth America
HabitatForest, Desert, Wetland, Mountains
ColoursBrown, Tan, Black
SizeMedium
Length47.5–125 cm, plus a 9–20 cm tail
WeightMales 6.4–18.3 kg, females 4–15.3 kg
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives alone
Lives for10–12 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- From southern Canada through most of the United States to Oaxaca in Mexico.
- What it eats
- Prefers rabbits and hares; also rodents, birds, insects and sometimes deer.
- Conservation
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
Did you know
Mostly hunts rabbits, but can take down a deer.
It can take prey up to eight times its own weight.
When chased by a dog, a bobcat usually climbs a tree.
Often confused with
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