Bobcat vs House Cat: How Are They Different? (With Pictures)

Cats are cats, whether or not large or small, wild or domesticated, proper? Not precisely. Wild cat breeds such because the bobcat have some important variations from their home cat counterparts. That doesn’t imply they don’t even have similarities, however the variations are far higher. Although maybe essentially the most essential distinction to recollect is that wild cats are simply that—wild.

Under you’ll discover the most important variations and a few similarities bobcats and home cats have, so learn on to brush up in your cat information.

Visible Variations

At a Look

Bobcat Overview

The bobcat has been round for a very long time—a very, actually very long time. Believed to be a descendent of the Eurasian lynx, the fashionable bobcat got here into existence roughly 20,000 years in the past. And today, they’re probably the most abundant wild cat breeds in North America. Although they vastly resemble the fashionable home cat, there are some main variations between the breeds (not least of which is the bobcat’s grumpy lone wolf persona).

Traits & Look

You possibly can completely inform a bobcat from a home cat by its look, even with the similarities. Not solely is the breed bigger than home cats by just a few good inches, however there are different simply identifiable differences.

For one, bobcats will often have a coat that’s red-brown (probably with a little bit of grey combined in). They’ll have white bellies with black spots, in addition to black streaks or spots across the ears and on their limbs. A bobcat’s eyes are yellow-green, and the breed is thought for the tufts of hair on the ends of their ears and alongside the legs. They might even have tufts on their cheeks that resemble mutton chops.

One other easy-to-see distinction is the bobcat’s tail; the identify bobcat comes from its tail, which is bobbed and quick (between 4–8 inches lengthy).

Noises

Although bobcats and home cats make comparable noises when they’re kittens—purring, growling, hissing—these sounds change because the bobcat ages. Older bobcats make a noise akin to a crying child or screaming lady (which might, frankly, be fairly alarming to listen to!). And when it’s time to mate, bobcats make loud, growling noises that echo.

Tracks

As a result of they’re each cat breeds, the bobcat and home cat each stroll with a direct register gait, which suggests when the entrance foot is lifted, the hindfoot on the identical facet walks in the identical spot because the entrance did. This lessens the quantity of noise and tracks made by strolling and supplies footing that’s extra secure.

Nonetheless, a bobcat’s tracks will likely be bigger in dimension than a home cat’s tracks. Usually, tracks will likely be between 2–2.5 inches broad; they can even be additional aside since a bobcat’s gait is longer than a home cat’s gait.

Housecat Overview

We’re all conversant in the home cat (and many people are proud cat mother and father). Cute, cuddly, and persnickety, these felines take pleasure in enjoying and lazing about. And as totally different as they’re from the bobcat breed, they do have some commonalities. For instance, home cats are suspected of getting been round for the final 70,000–100,000 years, originating within the Center East. Home cats additionally resemble the bobcat in seems to be only a bit. Simply remember that although our home cat associates are domesticated and glad to hang around with us, bobcats completely should not!

Traits & Look

Home cats are a lot smaller than bobcats. They’re a number of inches shorter, in addition to many kilos lighter than the wild breed. Home cats can even are available a wide range of shapes and colours, relying upon what breed they’re (although they’re sometimes grey, black, brown, orange, or white with totally different sample variations). And in contrast to the bobcat, home cats could be discovered all through the world.

Home cats are obligate carnivores that meet their dietary wants from meat and proceed to have that predator intuition acquired from their wild ancestors—making them glorious mousers! The home cat additionally likes to play and is extremely quick and agile (once they need to be). They’re recognized for being self-reliant and a bit stand-offish at instances (in contrast to canine recognized to be “man’s finest pal”), however we nonetheless love them!

Noises

As we mentioned, each home cat and bobcat kittens make comparable noises, however these start to sound wildly totally different because the breeds begin to age. As a substitute of the screaming or crying noises a bobcat would make, home cats proceed to purr, growl, and hiss, and can meow to get your consideration.

Tracks

If you must rely on tracks to let you know if there’s a home cat or bobcat round, you’ll want to take a look at the scale. It is because all cats stroll with the direct register gait, so apart from the scale and spacing between the tracks, they are going to look the identical. Nonetheless, a home cat’s tracks will solely be about 1-inch broad, so they’re smaller than these of a bobcat.

What Are the Variations Between Bobcats & Home Cats?

Apart from the variations in look, noises, and tracks talked about above, in what different methods are bobcats and home cats totally different?

Inhabitants and Distribution

One important distinction between the 2 cats is what number of there are on this planet and the place they’re situated.

Bobcats are present in North America, starting from Canada all the best way right down to Mexico. They will reside in a wide range of environments (desert, forests, swamps), so they’re pretty unfold out. The present estimated population of the bobcat is between 700,000 and 1.5 million.

In the case of home cats, they are often discovered worldwide and in a wide selection of environments. And as of 2018, there have been roughly 373 million home cats to be discovered on this planet!

How They’re Handled

One other distinction between the bobcat and the home cat is how they’re handled.

Bobcats are legally hunted and harvested for his or her fur in seven provinces in Canada and 38 states within the U.S. They’re additionally legally hunted in Mexico, although in seemingly smaller numbers. Nonetheless, being hunted for his or her fur might not be essentially the most detrimental a part of being round people for the bobcat. As a substitute, extra are dying due to the encroachment on their habitats and by being killed off by ranchers or farmers.

Clearly, the home cat doesn’t have the difficulty of being hunted, because it enjoys standing as a pet, however they’re in danger in different methods. Home cats face abandonment in shelters in excessive numbers (about 3.2 million per 12 months) and are vulnerable to being euthanized at mentioned shelters if not adopted (round 530,000 per 12 months), although. The easiest way to stop these numbers from rising is to have your pets spayed or neutered.

Which Breed Is Proper for You?

As a result of the bobcat is a wild animal that may’t be domesticated, the home cat is certainly the higher selection for you when you’re on the lookout for a pet. Not solely will you be capable to select from a wide range of breeds, colours, shapes, and patterns, however you additionally received’t run the chance of being injured (apart from maybe by some sharp claws whereas enjoying). Plus, it’s illegal in lots of states to keep wild cats as animals, which isn’t a problem with the home cat.

So, go away the bobcats to their peace out within the wild, and undertake a home cat from a shelter as an alternative!

Featured Picture Credit score: Bobcat – Pixabay