Is It Legal to Own a Bobcat in California? What the Law Actually Says
May 31, 2026
Bobcats are striking, powerful wild cats native to California’s chaparral, forests, and scrublands. Their sleek build and tufted ears make them look almost manageable — almost like something you could keep at home. But if you live in California and you’re wondering whether you can legally own one, the answer is clear and unambiguous: you cannot.
California is one of the strictest states in the country when it comes to exotic animal ownership, and bobcats fall squarely within its list of prohibited species. Understanding exactly why, and what the law says, can save you from serious legal trouble. This article walks you through the state statutes, permit framework, local rules, and the real consequences of getting it wrong.
Is It Legal to Own a Bobcat in California?
No — owning a bobcat as a private pet is not legal in California. Pet bobcats are not legal in California, and you cannot keep a bobcat as a pet in the state. This is not a gray area or a matter of applying for the right paperwork. The prohibition is built into California’s core wildlife regulations and applies to every private resident in the state.
States like Nevada and Texas have some of the most lenient laws regarding exotic pet ownership, but California is known for its strict regulations — and the only U.S. state with more regulations on game and wildlife is Hawaii. If you have seen bobcats kept as pets in other parts of the country and assumed the same might be possible here, the legal landscape is very different.
It is worth noting that most U.S. states prohibit private ownership of bobcats, typically classifying them as wildlife that cannot be kept as pets. California is firmly in that majority. If you are curious about the bobcat as a species — its behavior, range, and biology — you can learn more in this overview of bobcats, or explore how it compares to its close relative in this guide on the differences between bobcats and lynx.
Important Note: Even transporting or importing a bobcat into California without authorization is a violation of state law — not just keeping one at home. The prohibition covers possession, transport, and importation.
California’s Laws on Owning a Bobcat
The legal foundation for California’s ban on bobcat ownership sits in two overlapping bodies of law: the California Code of Regulations and the California Fish and Game Code.
According to California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 14, Section 671 — Possession of Wildlife — it is illegal to keep many species classified as “exotic animals” as pets. Under that regulation, it is unlawful to import, transport, or possess live restricted animals except under a permit issued by the department. Bobcats are explicitly listed among the restricted species covered by this section.
Among the popular exotic animals prohibited under CCR Section 671 — including raccoons, skunks, deer, alligators, lemurs, and zebras — are large cats such as bobcats, leopards, jaguars, servals, and cheetahs. The bobcat’s inclusion is not incidental. The commission has determined that these animals are not normally domesticated in California. Mammals listed to prevent the depletion of wild populations and to provide for animal welfare are termed “welfare animals,” while those that pose a threat to native wildlife, agriculture, or public health or safety are termed “detrimental animals.”
Beyond the CCR, the California Fish and Game Code adds another layer of protection specific to bobcats. Under California regulations, it is unlawful to pursue, trap, take, or possess any bobcat — or attempt to do so — except as authorized. Assembly Bill 1254 made it unlawful to hunt, trap, or otherwise take a bobcat, except under specified circumstances, including under a depredation permit. This means that even activities short of “owning” a bobcat — such as trapping one or removing it from the wild — are tightly controlled.
California Fish and Game laws prohibit keeping as pets any animals that are endangered, pose a threat to public health and safety, or endanger native fish, wildlife, or agriculture, making it a misdemeanor. The bobcat meets multiple criteria on that list. California is home to a wide variety of native wildlife worth protecting — from the venomous snakes and owls to the hawks that share the bobcat’s habitat — and the state’s regulatory framework reflects that commitment to ecosystem integrity.
Key Insight: California’s bobcat restrictions come from two directions at once: CCR Section 671 restricts possession of restricted species generally, while the Fish and Game Code includes bobcat-specific protections that go even further.
Permits and Requirements for Bobcat Ownership in California
You might wonder whether a special permit could make bobcat ownership legal for a private individual. The short answer is no. While California’s restricted species framework does include a permit system, that system is not designed for — and does not allow — private pet ownership of bobcats.
Legal possession of a restricted species may be allowed under a Restricted Species Permit issued pursuant to Title 14 CCR Section 671, but CDFW is authorized to issue permits only to qualified individuals or institutions for limited purposes such as research, public exhibition, education, or shelter. Permits are not issued to import or possess any wild animal for pet purposes.
California prohibits possession of enumerated species without a permit, and permits are not granted for private pet possession. This is a critical distinction. The permit pathway exists, but it is categorically closed to anyone who simply wants a bobcat as a companion animal.
For those who do qualify for a restricted species permit — such as licensed exhibitors, accredited zoos, or scientific researchers — the requirements are demanding. Applicants or their full-time employees must be at least 18 years of age and possess the equivalent of at least two years of full-time, paid or volunteer, hands-on experience caring for restricted species. They must also have at least one year of full-time hands-on professional experience working with restricted species in the same family or closely related taxonomic family as each species being requested.
There is one narrow permit category that does involve bobcats, but it has nothing to do with keeping them as pets. A person who is a property owner or tenant may apply to the CDFW for a permit to take elk, bear, bobcat, beaver, wild pigs, deer, wild turkeys, or gray squirrels that are damaging or destroying, or immediately threatening to damage or destroy, land or property. This is a depredation permit — it authorizes the removal of a bobcat causing active property damage, not the keeping of one as a pet.
| Permit Type | Who Qualifies | Covers Pet Ownership? |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted Species Permit (Exhibition) | Licensed exhibitors, zoos, AZA-accredited institutions | No |
| Restricted Species Permit (Research/Education) | Universities, government agencies, scientific institutions | No |
| Depredation Permit | Property owners or tenants experiencing active wildlife damage | No — authorizes removal only |
| Private Pet Permit | Not available in California | No permit of this type exists |
Local Laws That May Apply in California
Even if California’s state law were somehow less restrictive, local ordinances could still block you from keeping a bobcat. California’s regulatory structure explicitly preserves the authority of cities and counties to go further than state law.
Cities and counties may also prohibit possession or require a permit for these and other species not requiring a state permit. In practice, this means that even species the state does not restrict can still be banned at the local level. For a species like the bobcat — already prohibited statewide — local ordinances simply add another layer of restriction on top of an existing ban.
Even in states where pet bobcats are legal at the state level, they may be further regulated at the county, municipal, or local level. In California, where the state ban is already absolute, local governments can adopt ordinances that address related concerns: zoning rules about keeping large predators, public safety codes, or animal control regulations that specifically name wild felids.
If you live in a city or county with its own animal control ordinance — and most California jurisdictions do — you should check those rules directly. Some municipalities address exotic animals in their municipal codes independently of state law. Large urban counties like Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento all maintain animal control regulations that may reference wild or exotic animals specifically.
Pro Tip: Contact your county’s animal control department or city attorney’s office directly to ask about local ordinances covering exotic or wild animals. Local rules can be harder to find online than state statutes, but they carry equal legal weight.
Neither the provisions of California’s wildlife chapter nor the regulations of the commission prevent any city or county from enacting ordinances relating to the possession or care of wild animals. This makes local research an essential step for anyone navigating exotic animal law in the state — whether the question involves bobcats or any of the other lizards, bats, spiders, or other wildlife species native to California.
Penalties for Illegally Owning a Bobcat in California
The consequences of keeping a bobcat without authorization in California are real, and they extend well beyond simply having the animal taken away. The state uses a combination of civil and criminal penalties to enforce its wildlife possession laws.
If law enforcement finds out you are keeping an illegal animal, you may face financial and legal penalties. The animal will likely be taken away from your care. You might need to pay for the pet’s boarding, rehabilitation, relocation, or euthanasia. You could face a fine ranging from $500 to $10,000 — plus those additional costs — and you might be charged with a misdemeanor, which could result in up to six months of jail time.
The fate of the animal itself can be grim. It is uncommon for individuals to face prosecution for illegal possession of exotic animals in California, but typically the illegal pet is confiscated. Based on the species, it may be rehabilitated, released into the wild, transferred to a specialized care facility, or euthanized. A bobcat that has been kept in captivity may not be releasable, which means euthanasia becomes a real possibility — an outcome that serves no one.
The financial exposure does not stop at fines. You might need to pay for the pet’s boarding, rehabilitation, relocation, or euthanasia — costs that can accumulate quickly depending on how long the animal has been in your possession and what specialized care it requires. Wildlife facilities that accept confiscated animals often charge for placement, and those costs can be passed to the former owner.
Common Mistake: Some people assume that if they acquired a bobcat in another state where it was legal, they can bring it into California. This is incorrect. Importing or transporting a restricted species into California without a CDFW permit is itself a violation of CCR Section 671, regardless of where the animal came from.
It is also worth understanding how California’s enforcement priorities work in practice. It is rare for someone to be prosecuted for illegally possessing exotic animals in California; in most cases, the unlawful pet would be taken away from you, and depending on the species, your unlawful pet would be rehabilitated, released into the wild, or sent to a particular care facility. But “rarely prosecuted” is not the same as “without consequence.” Confiscation, financial liability, and a misdemeanor record are all on the table.
If you are drawn to California’s wild felids, the most legally sound and ethically responsible path is to observe them in the wild or support accredited wildlife organizations. California’s native landscapes — home to everything from diverse snake species and salamanders to water birds and quail — offer plenty of opportunities to connect with wildlife without running afoul of the law. The bobcat belongs in those landscapes, not in a private home.