How Big Is a Bobcat? Bobcat Size Compared to a House Cat

Bobcat size at a glance

The bobcat is a medium-sized wild cat, the smallest of the four lynx species on average. Its body is compact and muscular, with long legs, large paws and a tail only 9–20 cm (3.5–8 in) long, which makes it look shorter and taller than a domestic cat.

These figures come from wild bobcats measured across North America. Extreme individuals fall outside them, and the averages vary from region to region.

How big is a bobcat compared to a house cat?

An average house cat weighs about 4–5 kg (9–11 lb) and stands roughly 23–25 cm (9–10 in) at the shoulder. A typical bobcat is therefore about twice as tall and two to three times as heavy. Very large domestic breeds such as the Maine Coon can approach the weight of a small female bobcat, but they still have shorter legs and a much longer tail.

Several features make a bobcat look bigger and wilder than a pet cat even at a distance:

• Long legs: the hind legs are especially long, giving a high, bouncy gait.
• Short tail: a stub with a black tip on top, never a long sweeping tail.
• Facial ruff: long cheek fur makes the head look broad.
• Ear tufts: short black tufts on pointed ears.
• Spots and bars: dark spots on the body and black bars on the front legs.

People who see a bobcat in a yard often say it looked “like a big cat” at first, and then noticed the tail. The short tail is the single best clue.

Males vs females

Bobcats show clear sexual dimorphism, meaning the sexes differ in size. Males average about 9.6 kg (21 lb) and females about 6.8 kg (15 lb), so males are roughly a third heavier on average. Males also have longer bodies, bigger skulls and larger home ranges.

Young bobcats grow quickly. Kittens weigh only about 270–340 g (9.5–12 oz) at birth and reach about 4.5 kg (10 lb) by their first birthday. They are nearly adult size by the time they leave their mother, though males keep filling out for another year or so.

Northern vs southern bobcats

Bobcat size follows Bergmann’s rule, the pattern in which animals of the same species are larger in colder climates. A bigger body loses heat more slowly, which helps in northern winters. The largest bobcats on record come from eastern Canada and northern New England, while the smallest come from the southern Appalachians and the Southeast.

Body size also tends to be larger in open habitats than in dense forest. Within one region, though, individual bobcats can differ a lot, depending on age, sex and how much prey is available.

How does a bobcat compare with lynxes and other cats?

The Canada lynx weighs about the same as a bobcat, but its longer legs, huge furry paws and long ear tufts make it look larger. The differences are explained in bobcat vs lynx. A cougar, by contrast, is several times heavier than any bobcat and has a long tail, so the two should never be confused at close range.

How big do bobcats get? Records

The largest bobcat accurately measured on record weighed about 22.2 kg (49 lb). Heavier claims of up to about 27 kg (60 lb) have been reported, including a roadkill animal from New Hampshire in 2012, but these figures are not well verified.

Such giants are exceptional. Most adult males in the wild weigh well under 15 kg (33 lb), and most females under 10 kg (22 lb). Photos often exaggerate size, because a bobcat seen at close range or through a wide-angle trail camera can look much bigger than it is.

Why size matters for a bobcat

A bobcat’s size suits its main prey. It can easily overpower rabbits, hares and rodents of about 0.7–6 kg (1.5–13 lb), yet it is small enough to hide in thickets and climb trees. When smaller prey is scarce, a large bobcat can even kill deer fawns or animals several times its own weight, usually by ambushing them while they rest.