How can I tell the difference between a bobcat kitten and a domestic tabby kitten?
Note the similarities and subtle differences. The paws are larger. The shape of the eyes of a bobcat are more round, than the almond shape of a domestic kitten. The white underbelly with spots is more distinctive. Note the small white patches on the bobcat's ears and the pink nose. You can also note the striped ruff around the face of the bob kitten and the fuzzier texture of the fur. Last, and most importantly, you can note the tail will be short and stubby with white underneath with a black tip. A domestic kitten's tail is much longer. For the first 10-12 days after birth, a bobcat kitten's eyes will stay closed; then they will open and appear blue. Gradually over the next two months they will transition to a beautiful golden hazel-brown color.
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Should I be afraid if I see a bobcat near my business or home?
For any questions or concerns regarding bobcats in your area, there are several posts addressing this on our LBR friend newsfeed. You're also welcome to call or email us via www.louisianabobcatrefuge.com and submit your photos as we're collaborating with LSU's School of Renewable Natural Resources to find out more about population numbers of Louisiana's only remaining felid. We work as a referral source through LDWF. You are also welcome to find out more about bobcats, by visiting their website. Bobcats are not a rabies vector species, and are not commonly known for attacking people or pets. They prefer members of the rodent family: rats, rabbits and squirrels. When faced with a human, a bobcat will usually dart away, but some sit for a moment sizing up the best escape route, and this is oftentimes interpreted by humans as being aggressive or unafraid. In reality, bobcats are admired for their amazing ability to sit motionless for up to 20 minutes watching their prey, until the right time. They're waiting for you to leave the area, so they can slink away into the shadows or looking for the best escape route, just as you or I might be if faced with a much larger and scary looking person, which is how we seem in proportion to the bobcat's size. See the example below of a bobcat that visited a Frisco, TX neighborhood for their quite landscaped backyard to rest, and use their shallow end of the pool as a "potty".
Are bobcats or Canada Lynx endangered?
We hear that question a lot.
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A good reply is are kittens and puppies endangered? It doesn't seem like it, and people sure seem to care an awful lot about them. Should we only care about a species once its endangered? Did you know that the Lynx rufus( bobcat) DNA varies by region, so if a bobcat is extirpated(rooted out or destroyed completely) from one part of the country, its DNA will be gone forever. Let's put it into perspective. Kitties and puppies are companion animals and the civilized world has a spay and neuter problem, which contributes to a devastating amount of suffering and death that could be prevented by education and funding. So, back to the original question...Are bobcats endangered? In some parts of North America they have been endangered or threatened or currently are. The CITES list will have the classifications as they vary. However, because the bobcat and Canada lynx are such elusive animals, and in years past the majority of data was collected by trapper reported sightings( which would tend to be elevated for their benefit) and occasional Fish and Game sightings( which admittedly were rare), it would leave one to question how stable is our US bobcat and Canada lynx population? Education and funding is the way to find out the answer to the question through research studies that are proactive and progressive, unlike the thinking of the past when we wait until a species is gone, and then "reintroduce" it. Louisiana is one of many states that has experienced that. We've successfully reintroduced the black bear, whooping crane, turkey, alligator and deer. The Florida panther is still gone. Perhaps with the bobcat, we can set the bar for other states to follow in providing conservation education to the public.
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In Louisiana alone, bobcat hunting was illegal until 2003, when a one year experimental study was passed to allow anyone possessing a big game hunting license to "take" one bobcat. If you read into the way the regulation is written, it actually allows anyone to take a bobcat at anytime of year, as long as the hunter holds a big game license, and the bobcat doesn't have to be tagged, so there is no accountability. It's an "honor" system. We are thankful for LDWF and the hunters who share their yearly harvests with the LBR rescues, but we believe this honor system loophole was an oversight, which needs correction. Since 2003 until present, every single purchaser of a big game license in the state of Louisiana has been legally able to kill one bobcat if he/she saw it, if not more( since there is no accountability). There was also no bobcat stamp made available to be sold yearly, not even a dollar made per hunter from 2003 to present( 2017, at the time of this post). That's fourteen years of what may be perceived as unreliable data collected on a species that's been wantonly wasted and not even a dollar made for Sportsman's Paradise. When bobcats have a small litter of 2-5 kits a year and those kittens must stay with the mother that long to learn survival and predation skills they are easy prey for not only big game hunters, but feral hogs, coyotes, great horned owls and other bobcats. Coyotes have hearty litters with as many as 17 pups.
A male bobcat doesn't even reach sexual maturity until two years, so how tough is life going to be for him to survive? Trappers have no limit during their season, but with a loophole that allows big game hunters to kill bobcat mothers and kittens when their fur isn't even prime, it's no wonder that Louisiana trappers should be concerned about the population numbers of the lynx rufus. * * 6 % of Louisiana hunters do receive a voluntary Game Harvest Survey that data is collected from that includes bobcats. With only 6% of voluntary hunters reporting, it was estimated that nearly SIX THOUSAND bobcats were killed in 2016, that's only 6% legally reported. What about the other 94%. 6000 is more than most US states that are considered top bobcat hunting areas boast, and LDWF isn't tagging our last remaining felids. Where are the other 94 % that go unreported or killed for social media posts, stolen to be sold for black market pets or parts? When are we going to do something about this waste of Louisiana's natural resource?
Example of an articles mentioning states profiting from bobcats either from tagging and hunting and from photo tours :
http://www.petersenshunting.com/predators/best-states-bobcat-hunting-2015/
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In forested or hidden den site areas they can raise their young 2-5 kits ( although most don't survive) for a year teaching them survival and predation skills prior to departing from the mom to live their own solitary lifestyle, after a year or rehabilitation. Up until that first year male bobs are especially a target for coyotes, feral pigs and great horned owls, besides man. However, as a self regulating species, man is their number one predator to face, even though bobcats fear humans. Only the few states that leave them unregulated and lump them in with nuisance animals, do not have a full understanding of their low reproduction rates as compared to feral hogs and coyotes which produce hearty and large strong litters which cause total destruction of the flora and fauna of our Sportsman's Paradise.One coyote can produce as many as 17 pups in a litter! Bobcats kill small piglets, rats, rabbit, fowl and snakes and are a self regulating species, not a rabies vector or threat to humans and pets which need not have man's intervention. Science repeatedly tells us that. Why aren't we doing a better job of protecting our state's last remaining felid, and educating the public about this wasted natural resource, as it's wantonly killed primarily for facebook and social media posts, and exported overseas for Russia, Japan and China for belly fur primarily. Not even used for Americans. Sad state of affairs.
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When wanton waste happens year round, these predators aren't killed for food, being harvested does not help maintain the population of deer not other species, as been proven by biologists. Besides the fact they they are a self regulating species, why waste them? For a hunter to harvest a bobcat, he should do so being educated as to the proper smaller bullet to use to not completely waste the animal. In addition , should he choose a larger caliber rifle, most taxidermist will have a blown to pieces bobcat which will be difficult to salvage and expensive mounts. Good ones that won't be eaten by moths in a few years and will actually resemble a bobcat run upwards of two thousand dollars. If the hunter chooses to tan the hide, he must have a CITES permit to cross state lines for a reputable tanner, as Louisiana is home to none. Please think before you shoot, especially if it's early spring or late summer during bobcat kitten season. Reports have shown the bobcats seem to be in decline for major over harvesting that's going unreported, just as deer is ( that was extensively covered in a Nola periodical, recently). Please educate yourself about what makes a bobcat unique, and vital to our Sportsman's landscape, before it's too late. Most hunters do the right thing, but I'm afraid we've raised a few generations of, "If it moves, I'm shooting it, regardless of what unfortunate wildlife happens to cross the path."
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We need more seasoned hunters to speak up on behalf of the trappers who see their harvests wasted by these guys using social media to kill bobcats out of season when the fur isn't prime, so it hurts the trappers.The LDWF Wildlife Commission has the power to make changes to the regulations, create awareness and hunter education. Louisiana can follow the examples of other US states by gathering essential data, so we aren't placing ourselves into a circumstance with another vanishing species, like so many we have lost and been forced to reintroduce. Sportsman's Paradise should be proactive, and be making at least what other states are making on bobcat tags or stamps. If approached in a positive manner, people are open to change and will embrace it. Old generational myths must be broken for Louisiana to advance into the future with species here to protect, whether it be for limited hunting, not wanton wastefulness or for attracting photo tours worth millions of dollars in revenue like Yellowstone has done. Some photographers spend their whole lives hoping to catch a glimpse of one bobcat and here is Louisiana squandering those we have, The more we have, the more that should be a focus for tourism dollars, especially since they hold universal appeal to men, women, children and oversea travelers hoping for just a glimpse of one. Louisiana should capitalize on that, not social media forums with teens taking social media photos of dead blown apart bobcats and encouraging others to post theirs, too. We have the power to change. People of Louisiana just have no idea this travesty is happening.
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Here's Wikipedia's latest on bobcat conservation:
It is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),[68] which means it is not considered threatened with extinction, but hunting and trading must be closely monitored. The animal is regulated in all three of its range countries, and is found in a number of protected areas of the United States, its principal territory.[28] Estimates from the US Fish and Wildlife Service placed bobcat numbers between 700,000 and 1,500,000 in the US in 1988, with increased range and population density suggesting even greater numbers in subsequent years; for these reasons, the U.S. has petitioned CITES to remove the cat from Appendix II.[9] Populations in Canada and Mexico remain stable and healthy. The IUCN lists it as a species of least concern, noting it is relatively widespread and abundant, but information from southern Mexico is poor.[2] The species is considered endangered in Ohio, Indiana, and New Jersey. It was removed from the threatened list of Illinois in 1999 and of Iowa in 2003. In Pennsylvania, limited hunting and trapping are once again allowed, after having been banned from 1970 to 1999. The bobcat also suffered population decline in New Jersey at the turn of the 19th century, mainly because of commercial and agricultural developments causing habitat fragmentation; by 1972, the bobcat was given full legal protection, and was listed as endangered in the state in 1991.[15] L. r. escuinipae, the subspecies found in Mexico, was for a time considered endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, but was delisted in 2005.[69]
The bobcat has long been valued both for fur and sport; it has been hunted and trapped by humans, but has maintained a high population, even in the southern United States, where it is extensively hunted. In the 1970s and 1980s, an unprecedented rise in price for bobcat fur caused further interest in hunting, but by the early 1990s, prices had dropped significantly.[70] Regulated hunting still continues, with half of mortality of some populations being attributed to this cause. As a result, the rate of bobcat deaths is skewed in winter, when hunting season is generally open.[36]
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Urbanization can result in the fragmentation of contiguous natural landscapes into patchy habitat within an urban area. Animals that live in these fragmented areas often have reduced movement between the habitat patches, which can lead to reduced gene flow and pathogen transmission between patches. Animals such as the bobcat are particularly sensitive to fragmentation because of their large home ranges.[71] A study in coastal Southern California has shown bobcat populations are affected by urbanization, creation of roads, and other developments. The populations may not be declining as much as predicted, but instead the connectivity of different populations is affected. This leads to a decrease in natural genetic diversity among bobcat populations.[72] For bobcats, preserving open space in sufficient quantities and quality is necessary for population viability. Educating local residents about the animals is critical, as well, for conservation in urban areas.[73]
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In bobcats using urban habitats in California, the use of rodenticides has been linked to both secondary poisoning by consuming poisoned rats and mice, and to increased rates of severe mite infestation (known as notoedric mange), as an animal with a poison-weakened immune system is less capable of fighting off mange. Liver autopsies in California bobcats that have succumbed to notoedric mange have revealed chronic rodenticide exposure.[74][75] Alternative rodent control measures such as vegetation control and use of traps have been suggested to alleviate this issue.[76]

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Is it legal to hunt bobcats in the state of Louisiana?
According to LDWF 2017/18 Hunting Regulations :
4It is a legal and regulated activity in Louisiana. Check your own state regulations prior to hunting or trapping bobcats or any indigenous species in your home state. There are federally protected species, and other species will vary by individual states.
What should hunters know about hunting bobcats for mounting or tanning purposes so they aren't wantonly wasted?
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Tanning- You must have a CITES tag to cross state lines in order to ship to a commercial tannery, due to the fact that there are no commercial tanneries in Louisiana for soft tanning bobcats.
Taxidermy-Since 2003, when bobcats were legalized on an experimental hunting period that has extended from one year to present, bobcats are being shot by varied bullets, primarily the two you see here. This young male bobcat, was shot with what's referred to as a "varmit" bullet, a 22-250 which is a white tail deer rifle. You can view it compared to a .270 which is the avg hunting deer caliber. This bobcat was brought to a taxidermist for mounting, obviously this animal's life was wanton waste, because no one had ever informed the hunter how much damage could be done to a bobcat with even a smaller caliber bullet. Bobcats have extremely tough skin and the exit wound from the back side rarely makes them mountable. Extra small caliber rifles are recommended for taxidermy purposes.
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People don't wear fur anymore, do they?
Fur trapping is a legal and regulated activity in many states, much like catching alligators. Bobcats and lynx are ripe for exploitation, because of a multi billion dollar black market wildlife trafficking industry on live animals and those sold for pelts and parts. Countries like China, Japan and Russia have a high demand for fur for bobcats and lynx, because most of the other wild felids are listed as threatened or endangered on the CITES lists...that leaves the US felids ripe for exploitation, with US state data population studies many years outdated. In my lifetime, I never expected cheetahs, lions, tigers and elephants to be endangered, but they are... as we educate the public about our valued US wild felids, we learn to protect and conserve what we have for our country so our children and grandchildren can see them in person, in the wild for generations to come, not merely as photos on the internet. You can help us to spread that message. Appreciate what we have while we still have it, not once the population may already be dwindling, because no tagging or accountability is in place in many states. You can check with your state Fish and Game or Natural Resource Division to see how old the data population studies are and if the species is regulated. For poaching or wildlife crimes in Louisiana go to http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/enforcement/operation-game-thief for anonymous reporting and cash rewards.
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* sample photos of bobcat pelts, a bobcat hat and other fur bearing species
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Can you see bobcats any place other than the United States?
Bobcats are also in Mexico and Canada. Several years ago, a production crew from Animal Planet/ Nat Geo Wild flew from the UK to film some of our bobcats at a release site. They wanted to film bobcats, because there were none in Europe and their citizens were completely fascinated by them. Yet, some hunters shoot them as target practice for social media photos and throw them in the bushes as wanton waste. A hunter kept posting a young bobcat kitten blown in half with the entrails hanging out and a hunting forum kept deleting the picture and he kept trying to repost it, complaining they kept deleting it. His sole intent was to brag that he'd killed a bobcat kitten with his graphic photo, stating he was helping manage the deer population in the state. Education is essential. Any biologist would tell him that a random hunter killing a bobcat isn't helping to manage the deer population in the state. It only made the hunter look really bad in that he wasted the life of a young predator that had other purposes to serve. Bobcats are a self regulating species with no need for mans help to reduce their population, unlike coyotes and feral pigs which are deemed nuisances by LDWF. Sadly, oftentimes bobcats get mistakenly lumped in with them by those who just don't know better. A great example from the Wild Turkey Federation is that red ants are a big killer of turkeys,and they state on their website that killing a random bobcat doesn't help the turkey population. However, imagine a hunter telling his friends that he just saved his turkeys from the big bad red ants at the camp or the big bad bobcat...that's where the generational myths get passed down and continue, until one hunting generation stops the myth.
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It's been an amazing experience to see the expression of so many hunters who've shown relief on their faces when they've told us they saw a bobcat and took a deep breath and "gave him a pass" or "sigh, didn't feel like I had to shoot him." "If ya not gonna eat it, why shoot it?" I can't say how many times I've heard hunters tell me that or "Man, if I'd known I've known that, I'd have not shot it. That thing's been in my freezer for years. I'm probably never gonna mount it." Many say they saw one for the first time, and their instinct was to just "shoot it" and they didn't even know why. We had a hunter two years ago leave his deer stand put a bobcat kitten in distress in his tote, get in his boat to bring it to us for rescue. Now that's a new generation of hunter. To his daughter, he was her super hero. He was our super hero, too. We have a story about him on our LBR blog.That's what the right kind of conservation education will do. We want to continue to see them in the US, Mexico and Canada.
What does LBR do?
Thank you for supporting our mission, whether it be the wildlife education we provide pro bono to schools, universities and the public, sponsoring the care for the permanent AKP surrogates or the rehabilitation wild kittens we provide for, where we average 12-16 at any given time, not including our five domestic rescues( two Education Ambassador kitty rescues). It takes love, funding, time, and friends who can help us spread the word when it comes to sharing our posts and educating others when you see someone with a bobcat on social media that shouldn't be in possession of one or a rescued kitten that you can identify as a bobcat and contacting LDWF to report it, or us at LBR...you can always call LDWF smart phone apps anonymously for anything suspicious, too.
Why don't bobcats make good pets?(and)
What if I know someone who has a pet bobcat or exotic cat, but they don't want to get in trouble or pay a fine. 
Should they just release the bobcat in the woods?
When individuals cannot find a sanctuary for their "pet" exotic animals they have tired of, have been injured by or have become overwhelmed with( the time, effort and cost involved) oftentimes; they just release them into the "wild" to fend for themselves out of desperation or feeling that is the "humane" thing to do. Traditional pounds and animal shelters are already overcrowded and are not set up to handle exotics. Zoos do not want or have space for them. On average, most bobcats and lynx kittens sold by breeder will not live past the first year with their owners. Sadly, they are sold as kittens and that is USDA regulated, but there is no system to track where they go from there. We've met so many people over the years at zoos and events who are quick to say that they "used"' to have a pet bobcat, but either say they let it go when it became to much for them( which was inhumane), it escaped or they trail off with the conversation, because they don't want to admit to what happened to their pet bobcat. It's fun to admit they HAD one, but not so much fun admitting what happened to it, sadly.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cheetah-bc-charges-1.3916155
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Most exotic pets lack basic survival skills, because they've never hunted for food. Many have also been crippled from declawing and defanging. Sadly, many face a death sentence through no fault of their own. Individual owners who are crippling and harming exotics out of ignorance, however (initially) well- intentioned is just unacceptable.
Bobcats, specifically, do not make good pets. Just because they are beautiful and look somewhat like a "kitty cat", make no mistake---they are not. Besides being illegal pets in Louisiana, they can hurt you accidentally with razor like claws and sharp teeth that can easily puncture skin. They also love to regularly mark their territory, which might be a bed, wall or you. In their first two years they are especially energetic with big clumsy paws that are designed to easily climb tress, but not carefully walk around breakable items on your mantle or dresser. They also eat lots of things that aren't food items, like make up sponges, brillo cleaning pads, and fabric. They can end up having these items undigested in their intestines without the owner even knowing they've eaten them and become impacted or bleed internally. Many veterinarians will not treat a wild cat, because they are illegal to own in most states and even in states where they are legal to possess, very few specialize in dangerous exotic breeds. When they do exhibit health concerns, it's usually too late and too costly for most households.
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Bobcat mothers rarely abandon kittens in the wild. Usually, they are nearby hunting for food. If you do encounter bobcat kittens in the wild, please leave them for the mother to return to. However, should you end up with a bobcat in your possession, please turn it in to a licensed rehabilitator or wildlife veterinarian. That is the humane and responsible choice.

If someone is wanting to do the right thing and turn a bobcat in, because they didn't know it was illegal to keep them, we are glad to help them anonymously turn the "rescue" in as a "rescue" and there are no fines associated with it, if they choose to do the right thing. We, along with LDWF want what is best for the rescued bob, and that is not for it to be dumped into the woods after it's been imprinted on humans or declawed, so please reach out to LBR without fear of penalties or fines and we'll be glad to help you. If they dump the bobcat, other bobcats will be inclined to kill it, because it won't be acting like a wild bobcat and they'll think something is wrong with it. It will also not be able to hunt or defend itself and would likely suffer an agonizing death. If it could be rehabilitated to be released back into the wild we could do that, if not we could provide permanent sanctuary.
...And always PM with any questions or contact us at www.louisianabobcatrefuge.com the contact us page or director@louisianabobcatrefuge.com Big purrs♥
What does "Big purrs" mean?
Big purrs! It's Pamela Kay Connery's unique trademarked expression she developed for the Louisiana Bobcat Refuge as a signature remark in opening or closing posts on social media or in written or verbal communication. Those who follow louisianabobcatrefuge.com via facebook have become all too familiar with the saying and wish her, "Big purrs," in return. She has also given the Louisiana Bobcat Refuge permission to use it in a product line development for merchandise which supports their mission.
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What are some of the most DANGEROUS CREATURES known to harm man the most frequently?
Find out here with Man vs Beast Breakdown!
http://www.wideopencountry.com/u-s-map-shows-deadliest-animal-in-each-state/
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Will a bobcat harm my cat or dog?/
What do bobcats eat?
Bobcats are curious animals that lurk in the shadows of suburban and rural areas. Most people will never see one in their lifetime, even hunters who spend many hours in the woods don't see them. A bobcat's nature causes it to be very elusive and quiet, almost shy. They avoid humans and loud open busy spaces of activity. Bobcats normally dine on members of the rodent family: rabbits, rats and squirrels with occasional fowl. Deer are not a normal part of their diet, although they can be spotted on occasion scavenging from a carcass of a wounded deer that got away from a hunter or was a predation victim of coyotes. A good thing to note is that bobcats are patience hunters, which is one of the reasons they were admired by Native Americans. They can sit motionless up to 20 minutes watching prey prior to going in for a quick kill. Just like humans have the choice of fast food at a drive through for convenience over hunting our food and preparing it at home or making an elaborate dinner, we'll oftentimes choose the easiest option. Bobcats aren't that much different when it comes to choosing their prey. They have an innate sense of fear and are wary of harm that could come to them if they approach a human or barking dog that could bite and injure them. It's easier and much less risky to go after small prey that cannot defend itself.
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Bobcats are not considered a rabies vector species, unlike raccoons, foxes and skunks. There have been very few cases of rabies in a bobcat in the US. Even in those circumstances, bobcats do not attack humans or dogs unless cornered, threatened or attacked. You are welcome to google bobcats stealing dogs and see how many documented photos are available after all these years of internet access and news reporting. You would be hard pressed to find many. Coyotes and birds of prey, like a Great Horned Owl are the usual culprits in pet disappearances, especially small dogs and cats. In our video section, you'll see a bobcat playing with dogs, a news story on a deer running of a bobcat and bobcats usually perceive domestic cats either as no threat, a source of curiosity or a long lost relative. Louisiana Bobcat Refuge uses a domestic tabby rescue as a surrogate with some of our rescue neonates and we keep several formerly feral domestic tabbies in the forested habitat area. Some bobcats seem to have an affinity for them, while others ignore their presence.
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What do I do if I find a bobcat kitten or a bobcat?
Bobcat mothers rarely abandon kittens in the wild. Usually, they are nearby hunting for food. If you do encounter bobcat kittens in the wild, please leave them for the mother to return to. However, should you end up with a bobcat in your possession, please turn it in to a licensed rehabilitator or wildlife veterinarian. That is the humane and responsible choice.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
Big purrs to Emergency Management Legal Consultant Attorney, and distinguished Louisiana Bobcat Refuge Board Member, William P. Bryan, III, for this sad shared Facebook link, we all knew would be the outcome, even the Springfield Department that authorized the confiscation. However, they were following CDC protocols for wild animals. Sadly, bobcats are not a rabies vector species and it's extremely rare for them to have rabies. Even the handful of cases across the US you might count on your hands, those with rabies ONLY were aggressive when cornered by humans who were uneducated about the species.
With this loss may we come away better educated to not try and pet, stick our hands and fingers on wildlife if we aren't authorized to do so, no matter how cute and cuddly they may be...if you're not supposed to touch it, doing so could cost the innocent animal it's life.
This man's intent was to save it, but the cuteness overwhelmed his finger to tell it goodbye. Indeed, he did. He went from savior to murderer in the eyes of many. Another lesson we can learn from this sorrowful tale is to educate ourselves and community about wildlife, as urban areas spread into rural ones.
We can coexist, and there's no need to live with a hyper vigilant sense of fear because one may occasionally see a fox, bobcat or opossum, etc. Every state wildlife agency has a page devoted to their indigenous species; read about them. Wildlife is fascinating. More hospital visits occur from domestic pet attacks than anything involving wildlife. The odds are staggering, just google dog bites. It will put things into perspective. BTW, please spay and neuter your pets, because we can reduce those bites, as well. Big purrs. www.louisianabobcatrefuge.com
The rabies test results have come in for a baby bobcat euthanized by the Springfield-Greene County Health Department last week.
The three-week-old female kitten did not have rabies, according to Clay Goddard with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.
Georgia Lafita, who is certified to do wildlife rehabilitation, cared for the bobcat kitten for six days after a man bulldozing his property discovered the kitten and took her to Lafita.
While at Lafita's home in Springfield, the man reached into the crate and was bit by the bobcat.
Lafita had hoped to care for the animal, which she named Lamia, until it was weaned. Then it would go to another animal rescue facility where it would be paired with an older bobcat who would teach Lamia to hunt and survive in the wild.
The man who was bit by the bobcat recently had heart surgery, Lafita said, and that is why he declined to go through rabies post-exposure vaccinations.
Lafita said she learned about the negative rabies results last week from the wife of the man who was bit.
"They are glad the ordeal is all over," Lafita said.
Lafita has declined to give the man's name, citing the numerous angry comments toward the man on social media last week.
According to state law, the bobcat had to be euthanized and its head sent to the state lab for rabies testing.
Kathryn Wall, spokesperson for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, said last week that quarantining the animal — as would be done if it were a domestic animal — was not an option.
"We take the risk of rabies incredibly seriously, as it is 100 percent fatal for a person who contracts it. Once a person starts showing symptoms, there are no treatment options," Wall said in an email last week. "Under state law, wildlife do not fit into the parameters available for quarantine. We have been working closely with the state Department of Conservation and the state Department of Health and are working together to seize the animal.
"We understand that testing for rabies can seem harsh," Wall added, "but the risk is far too great to take any chances."
