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Does your cat have unique markings and a fierce personality? If your kitten sports a mix of spots and stripes along with a stumpy tail, you might be curious whether your pet could be part bobcat. The possibility of owning a hybrid bobcat/domestic cat is exciting to think about, but can the two species mate and reproduce? Is there a chance the kitten you found could actually be a bobcat? If so, would you be allowed to keep it? If you have questions about your cat’s origins, this article can help clear things up!
Steps
Signs a Kitten is Actually a Bobcat
- Black leg stripes or spots. A bobcat kitten sports black spots or stripes on its legs. Their fur patterns can vary from tabby-like stripes to heavy spots.[12]
- White spots on ears. A bobcat’s ears are big and black, and they feature a white spot on the back of each ear.[15]
- A bobcat kitten may or may not have ear tufts, depending on its age. Younger kittens may not have grown the distinctive ear tufts bobcats are known for.
- Fierce personality. Bobcats are much more aggressive than a typical house cat, and a wild baby bobcat will likely scratch and struggle when you pick it up.[22]
- Not fearful of water. While both domesticated cats and wildcats can swim, it’s no secret that most house cats prefer not to. Bobcats are more comfortable around water and are excellent swimmers.[23]
- Strong-smelling urine. The smell of domestic cat urine is downright pleasant compared to the stench of bobcat urine. It’s been described as “rotten meat combined with sweat.” If you find yourself gagging after your kitten uses the litter box, it might be a clue that you have a bobcat on your hands![24]
- If your cat’s urine has a horrific odor, please take it to the vet for a checkup ASAP.
Expert Q&A
Tips
Warnings
References
- ↑ https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/rescued-kitten-tennessee-turns-out-be-bobcat/4UGQFJOD3BET5EMOEN7TW7U2R4/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3541004/
- ↑ https://messybeast.com/bobtail-cats.html
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7062607/
- ↑ https://www.app.com/story/news/local/southern-ocean-county/stafford/2014/05/16/rocky-bobcat/2177942/
- ↑ https://www.app.com/story/news/local/southern-ocean-county/stafford/2014/05/16/rocky-bobcat/2177942/
- ↑ https://www.app.com/story/news/local/southern-ocean-county/stafford/2014/12/19/rocky-bobcat-popcorn-park-zoo/20636283/
- ↑ https://pictures-of-cats.org/difference-between-domestic-kittens-and-bobcat-kittens.html
- ↑ https://www.wilsonpost.com/community/rescued-baby-bobcat-mistaken-for-lost-kitten/article_c1ef80e2-f642-11ec-9587-bb3d4c3047c3.html
- ↑ https://www.wildliferescueleague.org/animals/the-bobcat-master-of-the-art-of-concealment/
- ↑ https://animalcorner.org/animals/kittens/
- ↑ https://www.conservewildlifenj.org/downloads/cwnj_20.pdf
- ↑ https://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long-fact-sheets/Bob-cat.php
- ↑ https://pictures-of-cats.org/difference-between-domestic-kittens-and-bobcat-kittens.html
- ↑ https://pictures-of-cats.org/difference-between-domestic-kittens-and-bobcat-kittens.html
- ↑ https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/bobcat
- ↑ https://pictures-of-cats.org/difference-between-domestic-kittens-and-bobcat-kittens.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9nslhgexbw
- ↑ https://pictures-of-cats.org/difference-between-domestic-kittens-and-bobcat-kittens.html
- ↑ https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/bobcat
- ↑ https://youtu.be/hGmeYKRLsAA
- ↑ https://www.wildlifehotline.com/help/bobcats/
- ↑ https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/indiana-bobcats/
- ↑ https://www.fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2016/03/fear-response-brain-region-identified.html
- ↑ https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/bobcat
- ↑ https://youtu.be/SGBpiv-pOVo
- ↑ https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/animals-we-protect/bobcat/
- ↑ https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/bobcat
- ↑ https://northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/the-resilient-bobcat
- ↑ https://pixiebob.org/pixie-bob/
- ↑ https://pixiebob.org/pixie-bob/
- ↑ https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/pet-bobcat-legal-states
- ↑ https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/pet-bobcat-legal-states
- ↑ https://bigcatrescue.org/state-laws-exotic-cats/
- ↑ https://www.fws.gov/service/permits?$keywords=%22exotic%20animal%22
- ↑ https://www.cattales.org/animals/bobcats/
- ↑ https://www.howmuchisit.org/bobcat-animal-cost/
- ↑ https://exoticpetwonderland.org/exotic-pet-care-guides/pet-bobcat-care-guide/
- ↑ https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/pet-bobcat-legal-states
- ↑ https://www.howmuchisit.org/bobcat-animal-cost/
- ↑ https://exoticpetwonderland.org/exotic-pet-care-guides/pet-bobcat-care-guide/
- ↑ http://messybeast.com/small-hybrids/rufus-lynx-hybrids.htm
- ↑ https://www.mainecooncentral.com/bobcat-vs-maine-coon/
- ↑ https://www.mainecooncentral.com/bobcat-vs-maine-coon/
- ↑ .https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/pet-bobcat-legal-states
- ↑ https://www.wildlifehotline.com/help/bobcats/
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