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Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

jeffryscott
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p.1 #1 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

This just over year-old bobcat wandered into a spot with a rat in its mouth while I was photographing some birds. Of course I turned to the bobcat and watched it for over half an hour catch and release and catch again the cotton rat. The cat would drop the rat, observe it scurry away then re-hunt it, carefully carrying it back to the edge and drop it, sometime batting it, again and again ... Finally it emerged licking its chops and grooming so I knew play time was done. Tucson, AZ.

ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/1600s 1000 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/1600s 1600 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/1600s 2000 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/3200s 2500 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/1600s 2000 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/1600s 1000 ISO 0.0 EV

ILCE-1 FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens 800mm f/8.0 1/1600s 5000 ISO 0.0 EV

Jul 07, 2026 at 02:19 PM

G.E. Smith
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p.1 #2 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

Very cool. That had to have been such a treat to watch and shoot. Thanks for sharing ! Really enjoyed these.

Greg

Jul 07, 2026 at 02:25 PM

LarryBeemer
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p.1 #3 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

This takes "playing with your food" to another level.
Great images!

©¿©
LB

Jul 07, 2026 at 03:38 PM

morris
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p.1 #4 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

I've seen house cats do this. It's a great game for them. Lovely documentary work

Morris

Jul 07, 2026 at 04:04 PM

gmccroskery
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p.1 #5 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

These are amazing. In the second to last image, the rat looks like he's practicing a ballet move!

Nice job of catching the action.

Greg

Jul 07, 2026 at 09:42 PM

douter
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p.1 #6 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

Great sequence, Jeffry. Cats will play but in the end...
Douglas

Jul 08, 2026 at 06:24 AM

Karl Witt
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p.1 #7 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

I wondered just how long the game would last!

Oh man to witness this

Killer sweet set of images

Those are fantastic Jeffry!!
Karl

Jul 08, 2026 at 07:38 AM

Tollefsen
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p.1 #8 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

What an awesome experience! Poor rat…

Jul 08, 2026 at 07:56 AM

johnohio
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p.1 #9 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

Wow what a find, great captures. I'm envious, would love to have an opportunity with a bobcat. Nice done !

John

Jul 08, 2026 at 01:53 PM

jeffryscott
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p.1 #10 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

G.E. Smith wrote:
Very cool. That had to have been such a treat to watch and shoot. Thanks for sharing ! Really enjoyed these.

Greg
Thank you! It was indeed a treat!
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LarryBeemer wrote:
This takes "playing with your food" to another level.
Great images!

©¿©
LB

it took me a few times for it to register what it was doing, such fun. thank you!
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morris wrote:
I've seen house cats do this. It's a great game for them. Lovely documentary work

Morris

Very much reminded me of cats I've owned! Thank you!
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gmccroskery wrote:
These are amazing. In the second to last image, the rat looks like he's practicing a ballet move!

Nice job of catching the action.

Greg

Thank you! I can't imagine what the rat was going through.

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douter wrote:
Great sequence, Jeffry. Cats will play but in the end...
Douglas

All fun and games until it is time to eat

Thank you!
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Karl Witt wrote:
I wondered just how long the game would last!

Oh man to witness this

Killer sweet set of images

Those are fantastic Jeffry!!
Karl

Thanks so much! I was surprised just how long it took!
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Tollefsen wrote:
What an awesome experience! Poor rat…

Thank you! Yes, gotta feel for the rat, but everybody needs to eat!

Jul 08, 2026 at 03:53 PM

louie champan
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p.1 #11 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

What an experience to be able to watch this type of action and then also be able to capture all of it. Very well done.

Jul 08, 2026 at 06:10 PM

Ted ellis
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p.1 #12 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

Great behavioral series.👍👍

Jul 08, 2026 at 08:58 PM

jeffryscott
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p.1 #13 · Bobcat playing catch and release with a rat

johnohio wrote:
Wow what a find, great captures. I'm envious, would love to have an opportunity with a bobcat. Nice done !

John

thank you! We are lucky to have lots of opportunities with them, unfortunately there are lots of photographers who are a bit too aggressive when pursuing them at some of the local spots.
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louie champan wrote:
What an experience to be able to watch this type of action and then also be able to capture all of it. Very well done.

Thanks so much! Very lucky to have it available to see!
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Ted ellis wrote:
Great behavioral series.👍👍

Thanks so much!

Jul 08, 2026 at 09:57 PM


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