Size : 13-24 pounds average, up to 40 pounds. 25-42 inches long, tail 8 inches.  Height, 20-24 inches.

Lifespan : 12-15 years, 30 years in captivity.

Breeding : Mating November-January. Gestation 60-63 days. 1-6 kittens per litter.

Habits : Solitary.

Diet : Rodents, rabbits, and birds.

    The bobcat, whose name is associated with its short tail, is also known as the wildcat, and bay lynx. The color and texture of its coat blends well with a background of rocks, brush, and other dense vegetation, especially at night when it stalks its prey.
    The bobcat and lynx are similar in form, but have a few varied characteristics.  They both live in North America, but in different habitats. A bobcat has shorter ear tufts, shorter legs, bare foot pads, and a longer tail than a lynx. A bobcat usually has two litters per year, with the kittens born blind. A female bobcat will defend her young vigorously from harm, and they will drive males away from the den.  The male returns when the kittens begin to eat solid food. The whole family travels their territory together living in several different dens. After the young reach 9 months old, they find their own territories, and the mother will breed again.
    The most serious threat to small cats like the bobcat, lynx, and puma, is the fur trade, which continues to demand large numbers of spotted cat skins.