The mountain lion and the bobcat are two of North America’s most recognizable wild felines, yet they are often confused due to their shared habitats and predatory nature. The assumption that they are the same animal is incorrect. While both belong to the family Felidae, the two cats are fundamentally distinct species separated by millions of years of evolutionary history. Their differences extend far beyond size, encompassing their scientific classification, physical appearance, and ecological roles.
Species Identity and Scientific Lineage
The mountain lion and the bobcat are classified into entirely separate scientific genera, underscoring their profound biological difference. The mountain lion is scientifically known as Puma concolor and belongs to the genus Puma, a lineage separate from the “true” big cats that can roar. This single species possesses an extraordinary number of common names across its range, including cougar, puma, catamount, panther, and painter. In contrast, the bobcat is classified as Lynx rufus and is part of the genus Lynx. The distinction in their genus indicates that the bobcat is more closely related to other lynxes than it is to the mountain lion.
Telling Them Apart: Key Physical Distinctions
The most obvious difference between the two species is their size, which immediately separates the mountain lion from the bobcat. Adult male mountain lions typically weigh between 115 and 220 pounds, with females ranging from 64 to 141 pounds, making them the continent’s second-largest cat. Bobcats are significantly smaller, generally weighing only between 15 and 35 pounds, closer to the size of a large house cat. This disparity in mass is reflected in the appearance and function of their tails. The mountain lion possesses a long, thick, cylindrical tail that can measure up to three feet in length.
The bobcat’s namesake feature is its short, “bobbed” tail, which measures only about four to seven inches long and usually features a distinctive black tip. Bobcats frequently display prominent tufts of hair on the tips of their ears, a common trait among species in the Lynx genus. Conversely, the mountain lion has plain, pointed ears that lack these distinguishing tufts. The mountain lion’s coat is a uniform tawny, tan, or buff color. The bobcat’s fur is notably spotted or striped, with a base color that can range from grayish-brown to reddish-brown.
Geographic Range and Hunting Habits
The geographic distribution of the two cats highlights their adaptability across the Americas. The mountain lion holds the record for the most extensive range of any terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, stretching from the Yukon Territory in Canada down to the southern Andes in Chile. Their expansive territories require vast, contiguous wilderness areas, making them sensitive to human development. Bobcats are also widespread across North America, found from southern Canada through Mexico and across most of the contiguous United States.
Their size difference dictates a divergence in their primary hunting strategies and diet. Mountain lions are apex predators whose survival depends on successfully hunting large ungulates, such as mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk. They use an ambush strategy, relying on explosive power to take down prey that can outweigh them by five times or more. Bobcats are limited to smaller prey, with their diet primarily consisting of rabbits, hares, rodents, and birds. They are effective predators in dense cover, using stealth and agility to capture small game.