Felis catus
Towns, farms, and trail edges wherever people live. Tiny round track, about 1 to 1.5 inches.
What does a domestic cat look like?
A house cat. Coat color is not useful for the track.
What do domestic cat tracks look like?
A miniature bobcat print. Claws stay in. Size and a nearby house separate it from bobcat.
- Tiny round track, about 1 to 1.5 inches
- Four toes, no claw marks
- Small lobed heel pad
- Trail may wander near houses
- Often beside a fence or porch
What does domestic cat poop look like?
Small segments, often buried in soft soil. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Towns, farms, and trail edges wherever people live. Typical places: yard, woods. Year-round.
What to do next
- If it is friendly and collared, check for a tag
- Keep pet cats indoors to protect birds
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Bobcat identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
What do house cat tracks look like?
A round print about an inch wide, four toes, no claws.
How to tell a domestic cat from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Bobcat. Round, clawless, slightly wider than long. Tawny spotted cat, short bobbed tail with black bars, ear tufts small.
Domestic cat field marks
- Tiny round track, about 1 to 1.5 inches
- Four toes, no claw marks
- Small lobed heel pad
- Trail may wander near houses
Where the sign shows up
Towns, farms, and trail edges wherever people live. Typical places: yard, woods. Year-round.
A miniature bobcat print. Claws stay in. Size and a nearby house separate it from bobcat. Small segments, often buried in soft soil.
Common questions
What do house cat tracks look like?
A round print about an inch wide, four toes, no claws.