Have you ever wondered about the size of a bobcat out in the wilderness? If so, then you’ve come to the right place because we are going to discuss the size range that you can expect most bobcats to fall into. Their size can have an impact on their survival capabilities and can impact their maximum running speed, jumping, and hunting traits.
How Big Are Bobcats?
Bobcats are known for having longer legs than domestic cats and usually have an average weight of around 25 pounds. Some adult bobcats have weighed as little as 10 pounds while some have exceeded 35 pounds. They can be from 20-50 inches tall, and their tales are around 5 inches long.
Their local environment plays a big role in their weight and size because if hunting conditions are not optimal, then bobcats may ultimately weigh less if they are not hunting and eating as much. A good food and water source is extremely important for wildlife.
Several other factors can also impact a bobcat’s size and we are going to explore those factors in the following sections. In addition, we’ll be discussing how tall bobcats are and how that compares to their average weight as well.
| Bobcat Size | (Adult Male) | (Adult Female) | (Baby Bobcat) |
| Weight: | 15 – 40 lbs | 8 – 34 lbs | 12 ounces |
| Height: | 20 – 50 inches | 20 – 40 inches | 1 – 2 inches |
| Length: | 32 – 37 inches | 28 – 32 inches | 2 – 3 inches |
| Tail Length: | 2 – 6 inches | 2 – 5 inches | ¼ of an inch |
Bobcat Size Video
Is a Bobcat Bigger Than a Cat?
Bobcats and domestic house cats can be similar in size. However, most bobcats are larger than a house cat, which gives them the title of a “Big Cat” like other much larger wild cats. Your average house cat weighs 7-9 pounds. Fat house cats can weigh up to 20 pounds, this puts them in the size range of a small bobcat.
One of the key giveaways for telling the two apart is that a bobcat has a short tail around 5 inches. They are smaller than an average cat’s tail and thus they have the name “bob” cats. Below we have a size comparison chart for bobcat vs housecat. Bobcats are around 31.5’ to 47.2 inches long. Source.
How Tall Are Bobcats On Average?
Bobcats can vary significantly in terms of their overall size. Some bobcats are only 20 inches tall while other bobcats are capable of growing up to 50 inches. Most bobcats have a tail that is approximately 5 inches in length as well, which is much shorter than several other similar animals in the wilderness.
The shorter tail length can harm their balancing capability when walking on higher objects like tree branches. This is one of the reasons that bobcats generally prefer to stay grounded when hunting, although in some rare cases you may find them climbing a tree or walking on a tree branch.
See article for Can Bobcats Climb Trees here.
They don’t necessarily need to take advantage of their height to be successful in the wilderness. Bobcats use several of their physical attributes to succeed in the wilderness and this can include their color patterns, speed, height, and agility.
How Much Do Bobcats Weigh?
Bobcats will usually weigh around 25 pounds, but this can depend on their size and local environment. They are usually larger than domestic cats and can be nearly twice as much in some cases.
Bobcats can also vary in weight depending on their diet in the wilderness. They live for approximately 10 years in the wilderness and they can vary in weight throughout their life.
Average Bobcat Weight: 25 pounds
See our article for How Long Do Bobcats Live
The region where a bobcat lives can have a significant impact on its weight. For example, bobcats that live in a forest might have more access to larger prey and therefore may weigh more than a bobcat that lives in an urban area or a desert, where rodents could be the food source. Bobcats usually eat small rodents, including rabbits and squirrels. They are very capable of being stealthy, despite their varying sizes and weights.
Bobcat Size Compared to Human
Adult humans are generally much bigger than a bobcat. This does not mean that a bobcat is not a danger. A full-size bobcat next to a human may not look like much in size, however, a wild cat that is frightened can be capable of all kinds of damage.
Humans should keep their distance from bobcats. If you feel you, your pets or your family are in danger from a bobcat nearby, then you should seek shelter in a house or vehicle.
Why Does The Size Of A Bobcat Matter?
Bobcats rely on their size in the wilderness to do a lot of different things that relate to their own survival. This includes hunting, jumping, climbing, and running. Their size allows them to be extremely agile without sacrificing speed or stealth. In the wilderness, these factors can have an impact on survival capability.
The good news is that the bobcat species have a stable population because they generally fall into the size categories that are common and ideal. If the bobcat population started to unexpectedly decline without any reason, one of the first things that would have to be looked at is if an abnormal amount of bobcats are not within their expected estimated size.
Bobcats Can Climb Because They Have Strong Legs
Bobcats are tenacious animals and they are determined to survive out in the wilderness. They have a few attributes that allow them to prosper in the wilderness and one of those attributes happens to be an incredible ability to leap and climb.
Bobcats are generally pretty large and this allows them to develop very long legs that can generate a lot of power when climbing. This can be a useful skill in the wilderness, especially if they are being hunted or chased. Bobcats have been spotted rapidly climbing into trees to escape from predators.
The tenacity that bobcats show out in the wilderness is natural to their species. They are determined to survive regardless of the conditions and they are willing to use their natural traits to survive at all costs. Their overall size allows them to have the lower-body strength and ability to be able to climb large objects like trees and rocks without much difficulty. Source.
Bobcat Size Vs Dog
Bobcats are slightly larger than house cats, so they can also be larger than small dogs. Bobcats are wild animals, so keeping them away from small dogs and pets is critical if you believe there are bobcats living in your area. Even larger dogs could be in danger if they come up against a wild bobcat.
Both bobcats and small dogs are around 25 pounds on average. This means that a bobcat could be the same size as your smaller size furry friend. Dogs are anywhere between 25 and 65 pounds. So, in general, dogs are usually bigger than bobcats. Guardian dogs can often scare away bobcats from their size and fierce bark.
Bobcat and Dog Size Comparison
| Average size of a bobcat |
| 25 Pounds |
| Average size of a dog |
| 45 Pounds |
Canids, such as foxes and coyotes can be natural enemies to a bobcat in the wild. This is because sometimes their territory overlaps and they hunt some of the same prey. This makes them territorial and dangerous.
Oklahoma Bobcat Size
Bobcats love wide-open fields. And Oklahoma provides them with the type of environment that they thrive in. They can hunt from an abundance of wildlife, such as small mammals, birds like quail and turkey, and more. Oklahoma is definitely a place where you would find a big bobcat.
According to the Oklahoma Wildlife Department, their bobcats are
“From 11 to 30 pounds in weight and 26 to 41 inches in length.”
Source
Oregon Bobcat Size
Oregon is home to multiple subspecies of bobcats. The region is full of places where bobcats can hunt for food. There have been many reports of big bobcats coming out of Oregon.
Bobcats occupy most of the state of Oregon, with the exception of some areas where humans have populated, and at high altitudes. They prefer to stay in grasslands and open areas, as opposed to high mountain regions. Source.
Big Bobcats
A lot of people may underestimate bobcats after taking a look at their size compared to other animals. Bobcats are strong and dangerous animals, although it is quite rare that they harm humans. They are excellent hunters and their size plays a small part in allowing them to track down their prey.
They have several attributes that can allow them to remain stealthy, while also allowing them to climb and jump rapidly. While it is true that bobcats have a reputation for being similar to domestic cats, they usually weigh around 25 pounds. As we mentioned before, some adult bobcats have weighed as little as 10 pounds while others can up to around 35 or 40 pounds.
What is the biggest bobcat ever caught? Most records come from a bobcat killed in Wisconsin, that was 52 pounds. Source.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average weight for bobcats is around 15 to 40 pounds. A large bobcat would be 40 pounds or larger. The female bobcats are always smaller than the male bobcats.
Bobcats are the smallest of the wild cats of North America. They are the smallest of the lynx species, smaller than the Canadian lynx, and the Eurasian lynx. However, they can still be large enough to be fierce animals in the wild.
Bobcats generally do not like to cross paths with humans. They are solitary and they are very good at hiding and blending in with their environment. It can be rare to see a bobcat, but sightings do happen.
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