Bobcat Facts
The bobcat is a medium-sized wild cat of North America, named for its short, black-tipped bobbed tail, with black bars on its forelegs.
- Class
- Mammal
- Scientific name
- Lynx rufus
- Conservation status
- Least concern (IUCN)
About the bobcat
Other names for it are red lynx, bay lynx and wildcat. The bobcat is one of four living species in the genus Lynx. It ranges from southern Canada across most of the contiguous United States down to Oaxaca in Mexico. Including the tail, it grows to about 125 cm (50 in). It adapts to many settings: woods, semidesert, the edges of towns and forests, and swamps.
Rabbits and hares are its favorite prey, but it also takes deer, small rodents, insects, chickens, geese and other birds, depending on place, season and what is plentiful. Like most cats it lives mostly alone and guards a territory, marking the edges with claw scratches, urine and feces. Breeding runs from winter into spring, and pregnancy lasts around two months.
Did you know?
- Two bobcat subspecies are recognized, one east and one west of the Great Plains.
- Indigenous stories from North and Central America feature the bobcat.
- Coyotes and domestic animals can wipe out local bobcat populations.
Questions about the bobcat
Is the bobcat endangered?
No. The IUCN Red List has rated it least concern since 2002 thanks to its wide range and large population.
What do bobcats eat?
They prefer rabbits and hares but also eat insects, birds, small rodents and deer.
Sources
- Wikidata Q131907, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Bobcat, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.