From Bobcats to Cougars: 6 Wild Cats That Call North America Home

North America is home to amazing animals besides dogs, birds and deer, this continent also shelters wild cats. These cats are not like the pet cats in the homes. They live free in forests, deserts and mountains. Some are small and shy while others are large and mighty. From the bobcat in forests to the powerful cougar roaming vast lands these cats have unique lives and roles in nature.


Bobcat with tufted ears and spotted coat is found everywhere from Canada to Mexico. They get their name from their short 'bobbed' tail.
Bobcats are rarely seen despite living surprisingly close to human spaces. They prey on rabbits, rodents and birds. As a predator they play a crucial role in controlling small mammal populations proving that medium-sized cats significantly influence an ecosystem.

Canada lynx would score high points in style. With oversized fur-covered paws nature’s version of snowshoes and tufted ears that look fashionably exaggerated, this feline is built for winter living.
They are found in forests of Canada and parts of the northern Us. Canada lynx relies heavily on one prey that is the snowshoe hare. Their populations rise and fall together in one of nature’s most fascinating predator-prey cycles. This wild cat has trouble when its forest home is lost or changes due to climate problems. Keeping the lynx safe means protecting its forest habitat.


Once roaming across Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, the jaguar is now mostly found in Central and South America though rare images from trail cameras show a few individuals still entering Southern Arizona from Mexico.
Jaguars are stocky, muscular and instantly recognizable thanks to their rosettes spots with smaller spots inside. Their powerful jaw crush turtle shells and pierce through the skulls of large prey making them one of nature’s most formidable hunters.

Ocelot is a smaller wild cat that lives in Texas and Mexico who favors thick bushes and forest areas. Ocelots have sleek bodies and beautiful coats covered in leopard-like spots. They are active at night and are very hard to see. They climb trees well to catch prey or escape danger. Ocelots face threats because roads and human development break up their homes. Protecting wild areas helps keep ocelots safe in the wild.

Unlike its spotted relatives jaguarundi has a smooth, solid-colored coat that range from black to chestnut brown. Its long body and short legs draw comparisons to a weasel more than a cat and that only adds to its mysterious aura.
Once found in southern Texas, the jaguarundi may now be extinct in the US though locals occasionally report sightings that keep the debate alive. What makes this species unique among wild cats is that it is active during the day in search of small animals.

Cougar also called as the mountain lion or puma. They live over a vast range and are found from Canada to South America. They have large sleek bodies, tawny coats and long tails. Cougars mainly hunt deer but will also prey on smaller animals.
As human development expands into their territory, encounters are becoming more frequent raising questions about coexistence and safety. Still cougars continue to thrive across much of the continent proving their resilience.

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