A bobcat is a wild cat that lives alone in North America. It is named for its short tail, which is about 4 to 7 inches long. A bobcat's head and body are 65 to 105 centimeters long, not counting the tail. It weighs between 4 and 15 kilograms, which is 9 to 33 pounds.
A bobcat has tufts of fur on its ears. A tuft is a little bunch of fur. It also has ruffs of fur at the sides of its face. Its fur is shades of buff and brown, with dark spots or stripes. Buff is a light tan color. Bobcat tracks are round, with four toe pads and no claw marks.
Bobcats can live in a wide variety of habitats. They live in forests, mountains and brushland. A habitat is the kind of place where an animal lives. Bobcats are good climbers, and they are good swimmers, too.
Bobcats have strong senses of vision and hearing. They are mostly active in the hours around dusk and dawn. Dusk is early evening, and dawn is early morning. Bobcats are patient hunters. A bobcat hunts by stalking its prey and then pouncing. Stalking means creeping up close, and pouncing means jumping. It can run up to 30 miles per hour, which is 48 kilometers per hour.
Bobcats mostly eat rabbits and hares. Besides rabbits, they eat squirrels, rats and mice. Prey is an animal that another animal eats. A bobcat sleeps in a hidden den, often in a hollow tree. A den is a hidden home.
A bobcat mother usually has two or three kittens at a time. The kittens are born with their eyes closed, and they open them at about 10 days old. Kittens drink their mother's milk for about two months. Some bobcats live up to 12 years in the wild.
Words to know
- habitat: animal's home place
- brushland: bushy land
- buff: light tan
- prey: food animals
- stalking: creeping closer
The short version
A bobcat is a wild cat that lives alone in North America. It is named for its short tail, about 4 to 7 inches long. Bobcats weigh between 4 and 15 kilograms and mostly eat rabbits and hares. They live in forests, mountains and brushland.
Quick facts
- A bobcat weighs between 4 and 15 kilograms, which is 9 to 33 pounds.
- A bobcat can run up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour).
- Bobcat tracks are round, with four toe pads and no claw marks.
- A bobcat mother usually has two or three kittens at a time.
What does a bobcat eat?
Bobcats mostly eat rabbits and hares. Besides rabbits, they eat squirrels, rats and mice. A bobcat hunts by stalking its prey and then pouncing.
Where do bobcats live?
Bobcats live in North America. They can live in a wide variety of habitats, including forests, mountains and brushland. A bobcat sleeps in a hidden den, often in a hollow tree. A den is a hidden home.
