The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a wild cat native to North America, adapting to diverse habitats from forests to suburban areas. As a solitary, mostly crepuscular predator, the bobcat is often heard but rarely seen. Its vocalizations are intense and varied, frequently leading people to mistake them for another animal. Understanding this range of communication helps identify this elusive cat when it is active nearby.
Catalog of Bobcat Vocalizations
Bobcats possess a broad repertoire of sounds, ranging from soft purrs to loud, unsettling calls. They produce familiar sounds resembling a domestic cat, such as meows, used for close-range communication between a mother and her kittens or between mates. They also purr, a low, rumbling vibration that signifies a relaxed or content state, though this sound is quiet and rarely heard by humans.
When threatened or aggressive, a bobcat emits harsh, guttural sounds like growls and hisses, which indicate immediate danger or territorial defense. The hiss is sharp and explosive, similar to a domestic cat’s, but intensified due to the bobcat’s larger size. A snarl is a more intense version of the growl, often accompanied by an open mouth display to warn an intruder.
The most distinctive and often-reported bobcat sound is a high-pitched, raspy scream or yowl, which is unsettling to hear in the dark. This intense vocalization is sometimes described as sounding like a woman or child screaming in distress, making it easy to mistake for a human sound. The scream is loud, carries over significant distances, sometimes up to a mile away, and is typically a long, drawn-out cry.
Behavioral Context for Calls
Because of their solitary nature, bobcats primarily vocalize to find a mate or defend territory. The loud screams and yowls are associated with the breeding season, which occurs from late winter to early spring, typically between January and March. These long-distance calls function as a mating call, with females signaling reproductive readiness and males advertising their presence or warding off rivals.
During a confrontation, the growls, hisses, and snarls serve as warning signals to prevent a physical fight, which risks injury. A low, guttural growl usually indicates the bobcat is defending its territory, a recent kill, or its young. These aggressive sounds are a form of acoustic intimidation, meant to make the bobcat seem larger and more formidable than it is.
Kittens rely on softer vocalizations for communication with their mother, including chirps, purrs, and small meows. These gentle sounds are used to express contentment or to solicit attention and care, such as nursing. Adults may also use trilling or short, cough-like barks to communicate outside of the mating season, functioning as a non-aggressive way to acknowledge proximity or signal a mild alarm.
Telling Bobcat Sounds Apart from Other Wildlife
Distinguishing bobcat sounds from other nocturnal animals requires focusing on the quality of the sound. The bobcat’s most alarming sound, the scream, is typically a singular, high-pitched, and coarse cry, distinct from the chorus of howls and yips produced by a coyote. Coyotes usually vocalize in a pack, producing a rapid, varied sequence of high-pitched barks and drawn-out howls.
Compared to large domestic cats, the bobcat’s purrs and meows are similar in pattern but significantly louder and deeper in resonance. The bobcat’s aggressive sounds are also more intense and guttural than those of a house cat due to the bobcat’s larger size and lung capacity.