The bobcat is the most common wild cat in the United States. An adult bobcat weighs as much as 24 pounds (11 kilograms). It measures up to 45 inches (115 centimeters) long. Male bobcats are larger and heavier than females.

      The bobcat is named for its tail. The tail is bobbed, which means that it is short and stubby. The cat's fur can be gray, tan, or reddish-brown with black stripes or spots. The tips of the ears have pointed hairs called tufts.

      Bobcats are found mostly in the western United States. They also live in southern Canada and Mexico. Bobcats live in deserts, swamps, mountains, and forests. They are most active at night. Bobcats eat mainly birds, rabbits, mice, and young deer. Females give birth to two or three kittens each spring.