Discover the 6 Wild Cat Species in North America

While North America might have the largest population of pet cats, it’s home to only six native species of wild cats. Unfortunately, deforestation and human interference have caused a decline in North America’s wild cats. We’re here to show off these gorgeous felines that make their homes all across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. 

North America is home to six native species of wild cats: bobcats, mountain lions (pumas, cougars, panthers), ocelots, Canadian lynx, jaguars, and jaguarundis. 

About Wild Cats

All of the wild cat species are part of the family Felidae, which they share with domestic cats. The Felidae family is part of the Carnivora order along with the Canidae (dog) and Ursidae (bear) families. The Carnivora order is divided into two main suborders: the Feliformia, which includes cats, hyenas, mongooses, and other feline-like animals, and the Caniformia, which contains dogs, bears, sea lions, raccoons, and other animals that are closely related to dogs. 

In fact, all families in the Carnivora order share a common ancestor that lived around 60 million years ago. Scientists call the animal Dormaalocyon and say it looked like a mix between a squirrel and a small cougar. It was only 1 to 2 pounds and had a diet of insects and small game. As time progressed, the early Carnivora species spread and adapted to different regions. As a result, they changed in size, color, and much more.

Bobcats

Bobcats live in every U.S. state except for Delaware, but they are mainly present in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Washington. They also live in most of Canada and Mexico. Despite a population of 1 to 2 million bobcats, you won’t usually see one. That’s because they are very skittish and will hide from people. Your biggest chance of catching sight of a bobcat is on a game cam or while driving on a backroad at night. 

If you do spot one, don’t approach it, and don’t run from it. Bobcats rarely attack, but if you run or turn away from them, they may surprise attack from behind. While vulnerable populations are more at risk, the possibility of someone getting seriously injured or killed by these 15- to 40-pound cats is pretty low. 

Mountain Lion

Mountain lions are some of the most unique and gorgeous wild cats. Like bobcats, they were nearly extinct at one point, but their populations are now rising. While mountain lions are not considered threatened, a subspecies — the Florida panther — is critically endangered. 

Mountain lions are much larger than bobcats, averaging 130 to 140 pounds. While they are more of a danger than bobcats, the risk of mountain lions attacking humans is very low. In fact, you’re more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion.

Ocelot

Ocelots, with their big, gleaming eyes and adorable, leopard-like pelts, are some of the cutest wild cats. They’re about twice the size of domestic cats and are found across the U.S. and Mexico. Like bobcats and mountain lions, ocelots are nocturnal. Ocelots are not threatened currently, with a population somewhere between 1 to 1.5 million. Because of their similarity to house cats, some people keep ocelots as pets. However, ocelots can be quite a handful, since they’re really wild animals. 

Canadian Lynx

True to their name, Canadian lynx live exclusively in Canada (as well as parts of Alaska). There are only a few small populations present in the contiguous U.S. They’re around the same size as bobcats (between 12 and 35 pounds), but have much thicker fur which makes them stand out from their relatives. Canadian lynx are best known for their ear tufts — black fur that sticks out around 2 inches longer than their ears. Like bobcats, they are quite elusive nocturnal cats.

Jaguar

When you think of jaguars, North America probably isn’t the continent that comes to mind. But jaguars actually evolved in North America and then spread to Central and South America. They’re the largest cats that are native to the continent, weighing anywhere between 150 and 300 pounds. After jaguars evolved and spread further south, their northern U.S.-based populations began to decrease. Now, jaguars live primarily in Central and South America, with a few small populations along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Jaguarundi

These wild cats are nearly twice the size of domestic cats, mainly in length, weighing anywhere between 7 and 16 pounds. They’re native to the Americas, ranging between Central and South America, up to Mexico, southern Texas, and parts of Florida. There is a subspecies in the U.S. called the Gulf Coast jaguarundi that is protected.

Unlike most other wild cats, jaguarundis are a dark gray color, although there are some red variations. They’re also diurnal, active during the day, as opposed to their nocturnal relatives. 

Summary of the Wild Cat Species in North America

The photo featured at the top of this post is © slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com