What’s the difference between the two?
Being a country girl, I guess I was just raised knowing what different kinds of critters were and their traits. While we patiently wait, not a strong suite for me, I thought we might go over what a few of the animals you will read or hear about in the Walking Stick tales…or tails. In the animal world, tail tell the tale. Even your dog and domestic cat “tells” you how their feeling with their tail. So tails tell a tale, and Six Toes, Willow’s bobcat that she raised from a kit uses his usually to show his displeasure, much like a person’s hand gesture. I don’t think that needs to be described in detail.
Cats have an entire vocabulary with their tails. Tails up, feeling fine, tail down, not doing so well, or as you’ve seen your dog when he’s accused of tearing up the couch. A cat, simply would care, tail up in a “so what are you going to do about it.”
Back to the topic. What is the difference between a bobcat and a lynx. Both are considered middle size felines in the scheme of things.
Six Toes is a bobcat. He’s native to North America and found in all areas of the United States. A bobcat is slightly smaller than a lynx. The largest ever recorded was 52 pounds. That’s a pretty hefty cat. In Willow of the Wind, Reverend Coleman is terrified by the cat, and yet is saved by him. Six Toes is always surprising his people by bringing in game. Snakes are a particular favorite.
Bobcats also have shorter tufts on the tips of their ears. Shorter back legs and a coat with more prominent spots.
A male lynx may run as high as 60-66 pounds. Both animals are very close in size. Their fur is much more dense and more gray in appearance. They have much longer black tufts on the ears they also have more fur around their face and paws. The Eurasian Lynx is larger than those found in North America.
This is an amazing video of a young domesticated bobcat. Well, sort of domesticated. I don’t think the house cat is thrilled with the arrangement but it gives you an idea of the difference in size and this one is not fully grown. I certainly wouldn’t leave the two alone!
One belief that I do have is that any animal can be domesticated if taken from it’s mother and treated kindly and protected from those that would tease it in any way. That means don’t let the kids pull tails and then blame the cat when the kid gets scratched. I believe in teaching them from the first time they sit down with any animal not to pick it up or ruff their fur even in play. A hand quickly becomes prey. That’s what cats do. They eat, sleep, and hunt. Period. Oh, well there is that thing about letting you wait on them. You are considered staff. I also believe that they love. They just aren’t as obvious as a dog that wags his whole body at you when you come home. Cats have a law, that you find me, feed me, and then I’ll lay on your lap and let you groom me.
Have a blessed day. Kathy
