# Bobcat (*Lynx rufus*) Bobcats are medium-sized wild cats with beautiful spotted fur. They are great at climbing trees and love to explore their surroundings! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 29 - **Habitat:** Woodlands, forests, and deserts - **Also known as:** Lynx, Red Lynx ![Bobcat](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424238/objects/4479.jpg) ## Appearance The Bobcat has tawny to grayish-brown fur with distinct dark spots and stripes, especially on its legs and face. It is easily recognized by its short, 'bobbed' tail, prominent white patches behind its tufted ears, and a ruff of fur around its cheeks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Felidae - **Genus:** Lynx ## Interesting facts - A Bobcat's short, 'bobbed' tail is how it got its unique name! - Bobcats can purr, growl, hiss, and even let out a 'scream' call! - Each Bobcat has unique spot patterns, like human fingerprints! - They are expert climbers, often resting or watching from tree branches! ## Special abilities - **Silent Prowler:** Bobcat can move silently because of its padded paws that help them sneak up on unsuspecting prey. - **Super Hearing:** Bobcat has amazing tufted ears that help them pinpoint tiny sounds from very far away. - **Night Vision Goggles:** Bobcat has large eyes that help them see clearly in the dark when hunting at night. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 65-100 cm - **Weight:** 6-14 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-12 years - **Speed:** 48 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-4 - **Gestation:** 60-62 days ## Diet & Feeding Bobcats are expert hunters who mainly eat small animals they catch with stealth and speed! - **Primary Foods:** rabbits, hares, rodents, birds, deer - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) — A primary and essential food source. - **Hunts:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Often preys on fawns, especially in winter. - **Eaten by:** [Cougar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cougar) (*Puma concolor*) — Larger predators occasionally prey on Bobcats. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Bobcats are wild animals and should be admired from a distance. It's best to enjoy them in nature without getting too close. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bobcat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Bobcat? 65-100 cm ### How much does Bobcat weigh? 6-14 kg ### How long does Bobcat live? 10-12 years ### How fast can Bobcat move? 48 km/h ### What does Bobcat eat? Bobcats are expert hunters who mainly eat small animals they catch with stealth and speed! ### Where is Bobcat usually found? Woodlands, forests, and deserts ### How does Bobcat hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Bullock County Courthouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bullock-county-courthouse-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Chesham](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesham) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Coloma](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coloma) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Bobcat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bobcat) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Bobcat: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bobcat)