# How Long Do Bobcats Live?

> Bobcat lifespan is typically 10–12 years in the wild (up to 15 in captivity). What shortens or extends life, life stages, and status (Least Concern).

- **Species:** Bobcat (*Lynx rufus*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Carnivore — rabbits, hares, rodents, and birds
- **Habitat:** Forests, deserts, swamps, and scrub across North America
- **Lifespan:** 10–12 years in the wild (up to 15 in captivity)
- **Top speed:** Up to 48 km/h (30 mph) in short pursuit
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bobcat/how-long-do-bobcat-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bobcat/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

Bobcats are versatile medium-sized cats named for their short 'bobbed' tail, found from southern Canada to Mexico in forests, deserts, and swamps. They weigh 6–14 kg (13–30 lb), hunt rabbits and rodents, and increasingly appear on trail cameras in suburban greenbelts.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a prognosis for one named animal. This page is a species lifespan range.

## Urban adaptability

Bobcats tolerate human-altered landscapes better than many wild cats, hunting in parks, golf courses, and greenbelts where rabbits and rodents are abundant. They are primarily crepuscular — active at dawn and dusk — and rest in thick cover or rocky dens by day.

## Help protect the Bobcat

Bobcats lose hunting ground as suburbs and highways replace the woodland edges they depend on.

[Donate to habitat protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/habitat-loss-wildlife-extinction/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bobcat/how-long-do-bobcat-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.