Bobcat or Ocelot

[MikeyG]

It's a bocelot....

lol...good one!

[GreenArrow]

Leopardus pardalis albescens The shape of the ears... says it all....

[Grillen Joe]

Its a bocelot !

[Ayla]

BOBCAT/OCELOT HYBRIDS

Although these hybrids have been bred in captivity, they are unlikely to occur in the wild. These have adjoining ranges which overlap in Mexico and the southern USA. A hybrid is unlikely as they prefer different habitats and have different lifestyles. Bobcats inhabits woodland, scrub, semi-desert and swampland. Ocelots prefer denser cover and are more arboreal.

Their sizes are similar. Bobcats average 36 inches (90 cm) long including tail; 14 -15 inches (36-38 cm) at the shoulders and weigh 16-30 pounds (7-14 kg). Ocelots can reach 38 inches (100 cm) excluding tail and weigh 20-33 pounds (10-15 kg). Spotted subspecies of bobcat occur and retained juvenile spotting is also possible.

The LIOC newsletter for September 1966 boasted "A Really New Cat - An Ocelynx!" Details came from a letter dated Aug 11 1966 from John C. Ebner of Wichita Falls, Texas. Ebner wrote "I have a new little kitten that is now three months old and whose daddy is an ocelot and his mother is a bobcat. We are calling this kitten an ocelynx. although I guess it might be a bobelot. He weighed six pounds today when I had him declawed. We are most anxious to see him grow. Right now he looks more bobcat than ocelot. His name is 'Bruni' for the Texas town where he was born." A newspaper cutting from the same time period outlined an Ocelot x Bobcat cross-breeding programme at Ranier State School, Buckley. Washington, under the direction of Dr HC Thuline.

A breeder in Texas specialised in bobcat-ocelot crosses in the late 1960s one of which is pictured courtesy of the Long Island ocelot Club.
An advert appeared in the Long Island Ocelot Club Newsletter Nov/Dec for 1969 saying: "Ocebob, bobelot or whatever you choose to call them, they are with us and AVAILABLE ! Gertrude Troop [Troop's Pet Shop, Bruni, Texas] advises that she has had and will have from time to time, ocelot x bobcat kittens bred from her Mexican Ocelot and a Texas bobcat. Both parents are about four years old. Ocebob kittens sell for $200 each." Gertrude Troop appears to be the source of the ocebobs mentioned in the newsletters.

Regularly featured in the Long Island Ocelot Club Newsletter from 1967 into the 1970s was Fenwyck, the Ocebob owned by Ginny and Jim Story of Southern California. Fenwyck was one of Troop's first ocebobs, bred in 1967. Ms Story also owned an ocelot (Seymour) and a puma (McCavity). Fenwyck showed an interest in McCavity and the Storys believed a successful mating would produce the world's first "ocebobacougalot". (As an F1 hybrid, Fenwyck would have been sterile). In the newsletter of Nov 1968, Fenwyck was described as a really beautiful cat having spotted/striped body of the ocelot yet head and tail of the bobcat, although his tail was long for a bobcat.

In the LIOC newsletter for March-April 1975, Story wrote: "Fenwyck is a Texas ocebob, 8 years old and one of Gertrude Troop's first litters in a successful mating between her bobcat and ocelot. He was 5 months old when I bought him for $75 in Azuza, from a young man who couldn't handle him and didn't know what he had. I'd just lost my very first ocelot tragically to three dogs, but I was determined that his death would not be in vain; I had learned from my bumbling mistakes as many of us have and the Fenwyck is shy. I respect his independence and free spirit . He will not allow me to pet him and others to come close, but this is his home and the two females who grew up with him and share his life.

In the LIOC newsletter for Jan-Feb 1970, another ocebob called Maggie was described. Maggie was a very young ocebob bred by Troop and owned by WR (Bill) Boyle of Tacoma, Washington. Boyle wrote "She arrived from Gertrude Troop, Bruni, Texas, in mid-November. She is about 7 weeks old, weighs close to 2 pounds and is as tame as any domestic kitten. She was raised from birth by hand and bottle. I might add that my vet said she is extremely healthy and free of parasites."

Maybe she turned some out when they didn't catch on?

What a beautiful animal you were lucky to catch on film.

[ROJO]

Great photos.

[Triple 7]

bobed tail ocelot

[codfish]

Did he ever kill this? I think Ocelots are protected, but i doubt a cross is. Man I would love to mount that thing!

[weasel]

Some guy on our lease supposively saw an ocelot, but I think he just smokes too much pot lol. Looks like a bobby to me.

[Hogmauler]

Beautiful animals and really good pictures as well!

[Trick]

Some good information. Shot this one year before last and wondered if it was a cross. Doesn't sound likely now.

[Killer Miller]

Bobcat. Thats an awesome pic.

[Loneaggie]

IMO that's a absolutely beautiful bobcat.

[Reaper]

dirt nap that kitty either way, nice cat

[Night Wing]

Looks like half bobcat and half ocelot to me

Just my .02

I'm with you on this one. Looks like a crossbred.

[TxouT]

Pretty bobcat! My $.02 isn't nearly that valuable!