[Zoo]

This feels an odd place to ask , but I figure we're from a variety of places/people groups, so I could do with a little help on this question.

So, for people in the States, are bobcats commonly known anywhere as wildcats? (I don't really want links, I've found a couple, I want real people to say either way .)

Even better, if anyone is of Navajo heritage and is familiar with [or otherwise have specific knowledge of] the "Cat People". is Wildcat a bobcat, or something else? (I'm only in the beginning of researching this part of this part, so I'll probably find the answer somewhere in the books, but I won't refuse someone with firsthand knowledge .)

In Florida they've always been bobcats, and to me wildcats are of the Asian, European and African species. I've come across the term in some reading I'm doing for a project, and I'm particularly interested in accuracy, especially considering this would have a bearing on a major subdivision of the work. Curiously, the paper I'm thinking of specifically, though I've seen the term other places, was concerned with identifying various traditional cats or cat-like beings with jaguars, but wasn't very careful about terms for other cats.


[If anyone's interested in what people think of cats of all species, you might be able to help me out later too , PM if you want details.]

[Star Jedi]

This feels an odd place to ask , but I figure we're from a variety of places/people groups, so I could do with a little help on this question.

So, for people in the States, are bobcats commonly known anywhere as wildcats? (I don't really want links, I've found a couple, I want real people to say either way .)

Even better, if anyone is of Navajo heritage and is familiar with [or otherwise have specific knowledge of] the "Cat People". is Wildcat a bobcat, or something else? (I'm only in the beginning of researching this part of this part, so I'll probably find the answer somewhere in the books, but I won't refuse someone with firsthand knowledge .)

In Florida they've always been bobcats, and to me wildcats are of the Asian, European and African species. I've come across the term in some reading I'm doing for a project, and I'm particularly interested in accuracy, especially considering this would have a bearing on a major subdivision of the work. Curiously, the paper I'm thinking of specifically, though I've seen the term other places, was concerned with identifying various traditional cats or cat-like beings with jaguars, but wasn't very careful about terms for other cats.


[If anyone's interested in what people think of cats of all species, you might be able to help me out later too , PM if you want details.]

Bobcats are not wildcats from my experience Wildcats have actual tails, bobcats have a bob (obviously)

Wildcats are exactly what you said:

wildcats are of the Asian, European and African species

[Atilla]

Bobcats are bobcats and they're all over the country. Larger than a domestic cat, smaller than a cougar/panther/mountain lion.

Florida has a small amount of wild panthers left (that are very endangered from what I understand); probably what you're thinking of. Hence why they have an american football team and national hockey league team called the Florida Panthers.

Edit: Actually, after just reading up, I've discovered that florida panthers are actually a subspecies of cougar. Interesting.

[Zoo]

I know about cats generally , I just need to know if anyone knows if somewhere bobcats are referred to as wildcats. I'm used to the more rigorous literature that always includes a scientific name for everything (even if it's not the current name, at least then I have something real to start with >_<), and I'm a bit particular about which websites I trust . [And this is why when I give a tour and talk about the puma I explain why we have scientific names. . . this being -exactly- it .]

Florida has a small amount of wild panthers left (that are very endangered from what I understand); probably what you're thinking of.

Nope, the paper is always pretty clear about what's a name for puma (oddly enough, not puma. . . he believes "Puma" usually refers to jaguars, between the mention of Mountain Lion and Puma together in native myths and descriptions of the cat; problem being the native Americans picked up different names from the different people they came in contact with, then told these to future anthropologists who apparently often took them at face value or decided they must be mythical animals).

Edit: Actually, after just reading up, I've discovered that florida panthers are actually a subspecies of cougar. Interesting.

Yeah, that's why introducing some Texas cougars did wonders for the gene pool so far as inbred characteristics go (kink in the tail being one of the less harmful traits). Some think this doesn't preserve the subspecies enough, but the important point I think is being adapted to the local environment [pumas are the most adaptable mammal in the New World, historic distribution covered the entirety of both continents, in all its variety of habitats]. . . it's not like the Florida Panther traits are lost, they're just mixed with healthier stock.

And if you want to go insane, consider SOME OF the English names for the puma O_o:
Panther, Catamount, Painter, American Lion, Mexican Lion, Florida Panther, Silver Lion, Red Lion, Red Panther, Red Tiger, Brown Tiger, Deer Tiger, Ghost Cat, Mountain Screamer, Indian Devil, Sneak Cat, King Cat, Painted Cat, the Spanish called it leon when they first came over, and a few of the native American names are Koe-Ishto, Kandaghi, Hâ k-ti tä’ sha-a-na, koj, pangi.

[Darkness]

I'm not sure I've actually ever heard of a specific animal called a 'wildcat' o.O; We always call them bobcats where I am in California.

[Jakethecheesepuff]

there called wildcats in britain

[Zoo]

there called wildcats in britain

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) or European wildcats (Felis sylvestris silvestris)?

[Zoo]

I think my brain is not working lately. . . I keep forgetting that I can look things up [different case] and keep not finding better keywords to find what I want. . . . So I just realized that instead of "bobcat AND wildcat" I wanted "wildcat AND "Lynx rufus"":

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Wild Mammals of Northa America (google books)
The Smithsoian Book of North American Mammals (google books)
Natural History Museum, London
(etc.)

>_<

[Jakethecheesepuff]

there called wildcats in britain

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) or European wildcats (Felis sylvestris silvestris)?

Do you actually expect me to know that?

[Zoo]

Do you actually expect me to know that?

Well, yes. You responded saying they're called wildcats in Britain, and seeing as there are no bobcats in Britain I wanted to be sure that you really meant bobcats, and not European wildcats. So I'm going to take that as an "I don't really care, I just wanted to make a post".

It doesn't matter now anyway, I found my answer.