Bobcat Kitten

A first Bobcat kitten is usually born when a female is 1,5-2 years old. The breeding season in these animals starts in winter and lasts till spring. Usually, mating takes place in February and March. Only males with established home ranges can breed; young and weak males with no set range usually have no offspring. Males compete for females and long fights occur to determine the strongest male. The dominant male spends much time with the female. A pair of Bobcats plays various games: they chase, bump and ambush each other. During the breeding season, Bobcats make loud screams and hisses. When the female comes into estrus, breeding occurs. After mating with the dominant male, a female may breed to other males. Males also breed with several females who are receptive.

Males leave females right after breeding. The responsibility of bringing up the offspring is laid on females. The kittens are born in April or May, after 60 days of gestation. If the first litter dies, females can breed again and produce another litter in September. There are usually 2-3 kittens in a litter, but some females give birth to 5-6 kittens. A Bobcat kitten is born blind and helpless and females have to protect their young from predators. The kittens open their eyes at 9 or 10 days. For about 2 months, they are fed mother milk.

A Bobcat kitten relies on the mother for about 6-8 months. Within 3 to 5 months, kittens start accompanying the mother in hunts. As soon as they start hunting by themselves, they leave the mother and begin looking for their home ranges. It’s the most difficult time for Bobcat kittens, as they are not experienced enough and cannot always find enough food and defend themselves from larger predators. 

Bobcats are wild animals that cannot be tamed. They are fierce hunters and will never make quiet pets. Though these animals look much like domestic cats, they lack their wonderful personality. If you find an orphaned Bobcat kitten in the wild, you can take it home and nurse, but when it grows up, you have to release it into the wild.