Bobcat (Lynx rufus) Fact Sheet: Summary

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia (Linnaeus, 1758) — mammals

Order: Carnivora (Bowdich, 1821) — carnivores

Family: Felidae (Fischer, 1817) — cats

Genus: Lynx (Kerr, 1792) — bobcats, lynxes

Species: Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777) — botcat

Subspecies: L. r. rufus (Schreber, 1777)*
Subspecies: L. r. fasciatus (Rafinesque, 1817)

*Note: One or more unique subspecies may occur in Mexico. More genetic research needed to clarify population structure (Kitchener et al. 2017).
Sources: Kitchener et al. (2017), ITIS (2020)

Body Weight
Male: average: 9 kg (20 lb); range: 6.4 to 18 kg (14 to 40 lb)
Female: average: 5.8 to 9.2 kg (13 to 20 lb); range: 4.1 to 15 kg (9.0 to 33 lb)

Total Length
Male: 475 to 1252 mm (18.7 to 49.3 in)
Female: 610 to 1092 mm (24.0 to 43.0 in)

Tail Length
Male: 108 to 201 mm (4.25 to 7.91 in)
Female: 90 to 171 mm (3.5 to 6.73 in)

Pelage
Upper parts light gray to yellowish brown to reddish brown. Under parts white with black spots. Newborn coat tawny olive.

Range
Widespread in North America: southern Canada to southern Mexico.

Habitat
Occurs in a wide variety of habitats, including forest, shrubland, grassland, deserts, coastal marshes/swamps, and agricultural areas.

IUCN Status
Least Concern

CITES Appendix
Appendix II

Populations in the Wild
Considered abundant. Most populations in Canada and the U.S. stable (some local population declines). An estimated 2.3 to 3.6 million individuals in the U.S.

Locomotion
Most time spent on the ground, though excellent climbers.

Activity Cycle
Most active during early to late morning and at dusk; sometimes also at night.

Social Groups
Adults solitary, except during breeding. Often defend territory from other bobcats, particularly individuals of same sex. Temporary mixing of litters, mixing of juveniles and adults, or male near female with kittens.

Diet
Opportunistic predators. Mainly small mammals, particularly rabbits/hares, small rodents (e.g., rats, mice, squirrels). Also deer (particularly fawns) and medium-sized mammals (e.g., mountain beaver, porcupine, marmot). Uncommonly, birds.

Predators
Few non-human predators—coyote, mountain lion, wolves, Burmese python, domestic dogs. Young may be taken by Great Horned Owl, fox, and male bobcat.

Sexual Maturity
Males: about 1.5 to 2 years of age
Females: Physically mature at 1 year of age; begin breeding during 2nd year

Gestation
Approximately 60 to 70 days

Litter Size
2 to 3 young, on average (majority of litters 1 to 6)

Interbirth Interval
Females give birth once a year; rarely, 2 litters per year

Birth Weight
Approximately 280 to 370 g (9.9 to 13 oz)

Age at Weaning
2 to 3 months old

Typical Life Expectancy
Wild populations: Depends on population. Northeastern USA: typically 6–7 years where no hunting; typically 3 years where hunting and vehicle collisions are common.
Managed care: median life expectancy of about 18 years

Feature Facts

• Medium-sized cat
• Named for its short tail
• “Wildcat” is a popular nickname
• Ambush hunter
• Strong senses of vision and hearing
• Scent marking important in communication and territory defense
• Claw bare tree trunks, possibly to communicate with other bobcats
• Commonly enter neighborhoods but often cryptic
• Usually silent but produce loud calls during mating season
• Legally hunted in the U.S. and Canada
• Populations in U.S. Midwestern states have rebounded since extirpation in early 1900s
• South Florida populations threatened by invasive Burmese python