About Poppy
Poppy’s story begins the way many wildlife stories do—quietly, with good intentions, and with life-changing consequences.,She was being raised as a “pet” in a local home. Someone saw a tiny bobcat kitten and thought love would be enough. But love, without knowledge, education, and proper medical care, can unintentionally cause harm.
By the time Poppy arrived at WERC, she was in trouble.
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She was dangerously underweight, dehydrated from constant diarrhea, malnourished, and suffering from gastrointestinal parasites. Her small body told a story of hunger and struggle. When our veterinarian examined her teeth, they estimated she was about three months old—but her body didn’t match her age. Because she had been deprived of the nutrition and care a wild bobcat needs, she was physically underdeveloped, her growth delayed by circumstances she never chose.
What followed were months of worry, testing, exams, and several emergency vet visits. It was a long road—one filled with cautious hope and constant care. And finally, the good news came: Poppy stabilized. She grew stronger. Today, she is healthy.
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But not free.
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From the moment she arrived, something was heartbreakingly clear—Poppy had no fear of humans. Not the cautious distance a wild animal should have. Not the instincts that keep bobcats alive in the wild. Between her severe early health issues and this deep habituation to people, she was deemed non-releasable. She would not survive on her own.
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The wild life she was born to live was taken from her long before she ever reached us.
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That is the quiet tragedy at the center of Poppy’s story. While she is safe now, while she will be loved, enriched, and cared for every single day, she will never roam freely. She will never hunt on her own. She will never choose her own path through the wild.
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Poppy didn’t lose her freedom because of cruelty—but because wild animals are not meant to be pets.
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Today, Poppy will join WERC’s educational ambassador team. She will receive proper nutrition, enrichment that encourages natural behaviors, and lifelong veterinary care. She will help teach others about bobcats, ecosystems, and the importance of protecting wildlife.
Bobcat Fast Facts
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The Bobcats we see here in Calfornia are highly adaptable, stealthy predators with exceptional eyesight and hearing. Primarily crepuscular—most active at dawn and dusk—it relies on silent movement, camouflage, and explosive bursts of speed to ambush prey. Bobcats can leap up to 10 feet and are powerful climbers, often using rocky ledges, fallen logs, or dense brush as vantage points while hunting.
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Natural predators of the Bobcat are limited due to its size and agility, but may include mountain lions, coyotes (especially for juveniles), wolves (where ranges overlap), and occasionally large eagles targeting kittens.
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Known by many other names, often reflecting its appearance or behavior:
Wildcat, Bay Lynx, Red Lynx, Brush Cat, Swamp Tiger, Half-tailed Cat -
Length: 26"–41" (including tail)
Height: 18"–24" at shoulder
Weight: 15–35 lbs (males larger than females) -
Voice: Growls, snarls, yowls, hisses; rarely heard except during breeding season
Habitat: Chaparral, woodlands, forests, deserts, wetlands, and suburban edges -
Denning: Solitary. Females give birth to 1–6 kittens in sheltered dens such as hollow logs, rock crevices, dense brush, or abandoned burrows. Kittens are raised solely by the mother and remain with her for several months while learning to hunt.
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Diet: Carnivorous. Primarily rabbits and rodents, but also birds, reptiles, insects, and occasionally deer fawns. Bobcats play a vital role in controlling rodent populations and maintaining ecosystem balance.
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Behavior: Solitary and territorial. Excellent climbers and swimmers, though swimming is rarely observed. Bobcats mark territory using scent, scrapes, and vocalizations.
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Life Expectancy in the Wild: 7–12 years (can live longer in protected care)
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Range: Found throughout California and much of North America, from southern Canada through Mexico, thriving in both wild and human-altered landscapes.