Mountain Lion or Bobcat - How can I tell the difference?

Mountain Lion	Bobcat

I saw a big wild cat!
How can I tell if it was a mountain lion or a bobcat?

There are some key visual differences between mountain lions (cougars) and bobcats:

SIZE: Mountain lions average between 75 and 150 lbs, while bobcats average between 15 and 30 lbs. However, an exceptionally large male bobcat can be close in size to a small female cougar.

COLOR: Cougars are mainly one color (a tawny gold); bobcats are spotted or striped. One exception: cougar cubs are spotted (for camouflage).

TAIL: The most pronounced difference between the 2 species is their tail shape. Cougar tails are very long, at least half as long as their body length. Bobcats are named for their short tails, which are usually about 5-8 inches long (but can be slightly longer).

EARS: Cougars have rounded, wide-set ears. Bobcats have a very distinct tuft of hair on top of each ear which makes the ear look pointed.

FUR: Bobcats have a ruff of longer fur on their cheeks, while mountain lions have short fur all over.

IF YOU'RE STILL NOT SURE, contact the campus Animal Control Officer. Be sure to report any mountain lion sightings on campus as soon as possible!

back to the UCSC Animal Control Homepage