What Do Bobcats Eat?

Bobcats eat rabbits, mice, squirrels and birds. They also feed on insects, chickens and deer. They sometimes hunt prey that are much larger than themselves.

Bobcats can survive without food for long periods of time. When food is available, they eat heavily. They have been known to kill deer during the winter, consume large portions of the animal and then bury the rest in the snow for later. Bobcats occasionally feed on livestock, foxes, minks, skunks and dogs. They are solitary animals, named for their cut or bobbed tails. They are sometimes called "wildcats," and are twice the size of an average house cat.