In one area, there were 1 - 7 resident females for each resident male bobcat. Survival is probably enhanced because residents familiar with locations of prey and cover have lower death rates and produce more young than individuals who are unable to occupy land permanently. Although very similar in basic form, different small cats species show a wide range of physical adaptations to their habitats. The lynx and the bobcat are two North American felids of similar size which occupy different habitats. Because of the denser cover, sound may be more important than sight in locating prey for the lynx than the bobcat, and hence its ear tufts, which are thought to help hearing, are longer than those of the bobcat.
Lynx live in cold northern latitudes where snow lies deep for much of the year.
As adaptations to the lower temperatures they have shorter tails than the bobcats and their foot pads are well protected with a dense covering of fur, while those of the bobcat are bare. The longer legs of the lynx are also an adaptation to traveling through deep snow, where the bobcat is at a disadvantage. Warning Off Intruders North American cats advertise land occupancy largely by scent and visual signals. The means used to warn off intruders include the depositing of urine, feces, and anal gland secretions, and making scrapes in the ground. Vocalizations play little part.