A bobcat is about the size of a medium dog: roughly 2.5–4 feet long including its short tail, around 1.5–2 feet tall at the shoulder, and usually 13–30 pounds, with big males occasionally reaching about 40–50 pounds.

Quick Scoop on Bobcat Size

  • Body length (nose to tail base): about 18–49 inches, most adults around 30–33 inches.
  • Tail length: only about 3.5–8 inches, which is why it looks “bobbed.”
  • Height at the shoulder: about 12–24 inches (around knee height on an adult human).
  • Typical weight: about 13–30 pounds, with males averaging closer to 20–21 pounds and females around 13–15 pounds.
  • Biggest individuals: exceptionally large bobcats can approach 40–50 pounds, though that’s rare.

How that compares in real life

You can picture a bobcat as:

  • Longer and more muscular than a house cat, but much smaller than a cougar.
  • About the length of a small to medium dog (like a Border Collie), but usually slimmer and more compact.