California Toddler Tries Making Friends With ‘Kitty' Outside-Then Mom Sees the Truth

Growing up in California means sharing space with wildlife just about everywhere you go. From Southern California's parrot population to the deer and raccoons that inhabit most suburban neighborhoods, the Golden State is home to so many special creatures.

A curious toddler from San Bernardino, near Los Angeles, gave his mother the shock of a lifetime when he spotted a "kitty" in the backyard. The animal seemed just as intrigued by the little boy as he was by it, but thankfully, the toddler remained safely behind a screen door. As NBCLA revealed in a May 14 video, his mother quickly realized that the creature staring back at him wasn't a house cat at all!

@abc7la

Through a screen door, what looks to be a harmless kitty is actually a bobcat, hoping to make a new friend with a toddler in San Bernardino. Read more at the link. #bobcat#wildanimal#animalencounters

original sound - ABC7LA - ABC7LA

While there's no doubt that's a feline staring back at the curious boy, that's also not an average tabby cat. It's a wild bobcat, or lynx! Given its size and gangly proportions, however, it's most likely a juvenile.

Not every viewer is convinced they're looking at a bobcat encounter. One commenter claims, "It has a tail, so it's not a bobcat," but this isn't necessarily true. While bobcats are named for their short, or bobbed, tails, they don't lack tails entirely. Besides, if this wildcat is only a kitten, it still has a lot of growing left to do!

Related: Angry Bobcat Kitten Who Stole a Blanket Sounds Like Anything but a Cat

Another commenter, @cherylnoy, writes, "It looks like a hybrid bobcat/domestic cat." Anyone can see the resemblance, but this cat's long lower legs, large paws, and wide facial features don't lie.

This is also the time of year when young bobcats leave their mothers and set out on their own, which is also how they end up in backyards and places one normally wouldn't find them. No wonder this critter looks so curious and confused! It clearly means no harm to the equally curious toddler, but it's still a relief that Mom was there to keep the door closed and locked.

Bobcat Encounters in California

There are also several viewers who are underwhelmed by this California wildlife encounter, especially because bobcats are so common. In fact, they're the most widely distributed wild felines in North America! Even so, their common status doesn't make bobcat encounters any less impressive.

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It's always important to be cautious around these wildcats, especially when kids or pets are nearby. Don't underestimate them by their tiny size-they can be fast and fierce! Most of the time, though, bobcats want no trouble with humans, and they'll do all they can to keep their distance.

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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 4:45 PM.