Bobcats are bigger than house cats, but are too small to hunt and eat people. They are about 2 feet tall and weigh 20 pounds, with a short tail and reddish brown or grayish fur. The fur is spotted on babies, but the spots fade as they grow up.

Bobcats have five toes on their front paws but only four on their rear paws. Like house cats, they keep their sharp claws inside their toes, so when they leave footprints, the claws don’t show.

They range throughout most of the United States and southern Canada and live in a variety of habitats, but prefer rocky canyons or outcrops.

Bobcats usually live alone in a territory that is from 5 to 50 miles long. They are active at night, just like many of their prey.

Their food consists mainly of small mammals and birds, although occasionally they kill and eat deer. They also prey upon domestic sheep, goats, and poultry.  Bobcats can only eat about 3 pounds of meat at a time, so if it gets a big animal like a deer, it will drag it to a safe spot and cover it up. Later it will come back, eating again and again.

Their food consists mainly of small mammals and birds, although occasionally they kill and eat deer. They also prey upon domestic sheep, goats, and poultry.  Bobcats can only eat about 3 pounds of meat at a time, so if it gets a big animal like a deer, it will drag it to a safe spot and cover it up. Later it will come back, eating again and again.

Bobcats can run at up to 30 miles per hour, but would rather walk. They put their back paws in the same spots where their front paws have stepped. This way, they don’t make so much noise by snapping extra twigs underfoot.

Bobcats don't last long when chasing after prey. Despite their speed, they tire too quickly to be successful chasers. Instead, they hunt using ambush, waiting patiently along well-established animal trails and pouncing upon passing prey. Sometimes a bobcat will creep up on an animal that isn't paying attention and rush in for the kill.