There are three recognized North American cats, although some of them range further into Central or South America. The Cougar or Mountain Lion ranges from the Yukon down the western part of the continent to the southern tip of South America. The Bobcat is also found in Mexico. In southern Texas, USA there exists a small population of Ocelots, but the majority of their range is in Central and South America.

Click on the names under the photos to read our fact sheets on the cats.

Small Cats of North America

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)


Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Big Cat of the Americas

Cougar (Puma concolor)

 

See Also:

Ocelot Fact Sheet

Endangered Ocelots in Texas

Safety in Cougar Country

Canadian Cats

 

Updated 2024

5 Responses

  1. Pat Bumstead
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    Without a photo I can’t comment on what this cat might be. I doubt she is a domestic/bobcat hybrid as bobcats are known to prey on domestic cats.

  2. Christina Sears
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    I live on the Wasatch Front in Utah, at the mouth of the ski canyons in a semi wooded area. We know we have bobcats in the area as we’ve seen them and had the wonderful luck to have two bobcats out and about our property in January. We now have a kitten that is living in our junipers who I at first assumed was another abandoned cat (we get tons in our area, sadly). The thing is, she doesn’t really look like a housecat and if she is a stray she is super healthy looking. Her face looks more like a bobcat kitten but her body markings are more like a blotched tabby. She is wary but not really afraid – she’ll sit up on the rock or in the junipers and watch us with interest. Could she be a hybrid? Appreciate your help. thanks Christina

  3. pepper
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    Got pictures of a cat, game cam. Unable to determine if it’s a Bob cat or young man lion. Both are known in our area of the Ozarks.

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