The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is one of North America’s most widespread yet elusive wild felines. This solitary predator communicates through a surprising array of vocalizations, often unheard by humans due to their nocturnal and crepuscular activity patterns. When a bobcat vocalizes, the sounds are notably louder and more varied than those of a domestic house cat, though they share foundational communication methods. Understanding these sounds provides an auditory glimpse into the hidden life of this adaptable carnivore.
The Core Vocalizations
Bobcats possess a vocal repertoire that includes familiar feline sounds and uniquely harsh calls. Like domestic cousins, they can purr when content or relaxed, though this low-frequency vibration is rarely heard in the wild. They also produce a version of the meow, which is typically louder and deeper than a house cat’s, reserved for short-range communication.
When threatened or angered, a bobcat uses aggressive sounds, including an explosive hiss and a guttural, rumbling growl. A distinct sound is the “cough-bark,” a short, sudden, and raspy vocalization deployed as a warning. Kits primarily use softer sounds like meows, chirps, and trills to communicate with their mother and siblings, similar to domestic kittens. Adult bobcats can also make a high-pitched, distressful squall, usually made only when they are in pain or severely alarmed.
Context and Meaning of Bobcat Calls
The function of a bobcat’s call relates directly to its intensity, ranging from soft contact noises to piercing, long-distance announcements. Lower-volume sounds like the meow and chirp are primarily for close-range social interactions, such as a mother signaling to her young or a pair communicating during courtship. The mother bobcat uses a low, soft meow to keep track of her kits, and may use a growl to warn them of danger.
The loudest sounds relate to conflict or reproduction, serving as long-distance announcements that travel through the nocturnal landscape. Aggressive vocalizations like the growl, hiss, and cough-bark serve as immediate warnings to competitors or predators encroaching on a territory or kill. During the winter and early spring breeding season, bobcats emit loud, high-pitched screams and caterwauls. This raw, piercing cry, sometimes mistaken for a woman screaming or a baby crying, is a mating call used by both males and females to locate each other and advertise reproductive status.
Distinguishing Bobcat Sounds
Identifying a bobcat based on sound requires differentiating its calls from other common nocturnal wildlife, particularly canids. A bobcat’s screams and caterwauls are distinct from the typical chorus of a coyote, which usually includes a rapid succession of group yips, barks, and howls with a recognizable canine quality. Coyote howls are generally sustained and mournful, while the bobcat’s mating scream is a singular, high-intensity, cat-like sound.
Distinguishing a bobcat scream from a fox’s shriek can be challenging, as both are high-pitched and unnerving. A fox’s scream, often a vixen’s mating call, is typically a raspy, drawn-out screech. In contrast, the bobcat’s caterwaul is described as having a more piercing, almost human-like timber. These loud bobcat sounds are most likely to occur at night or during the twilight hours of late winter and early spring, providing a situational clue to the listener.