Bobcats may look cute and fluffy, but don’t be fooled into thinking they’re anything like a house cat. One of the four species of lynx, these wildcats are around twice the size of the average domestic cat and are fierce predators.

Found throughout much of North America, they live in a diverse range of habitats. Bobcats can be found in forests, grasslands, swamps, deserts, and sometimes even roam into suburban areas. Though they may be the most common wildcat in North America, these elusive, nocturnal animals are rarely seen by humans.

Bobcats share many similarities with the other lynx species—Canada lynx, Iberian lynx, and Eurasian lynx—but some distinct features set them apart. The first is