Domestic Cat Scat and Tracks: How to Identify Them (Felis catus)

Pet sign is here for comparison: dog and cat tracks and scat are the most common things mistaken for coyote, fox and bobcat. Dogs wander, drag their toes and leave scat anywhere; wild canids travel in straight lines and place scat deliberately. Cats bury scat; bobcats often do not. The measurements below for Domestic Cat are quoted from the wildlife agencies linked at the bottom of the page.

• Claws usually do not show
• Gait: Cat tracks rarely show claw marks (retractable claws)

A juvenile Bobcat's tracks are easily confused with a Domestic Cat's The Bobcat page has its own sign list.

Cat tracks rarely show claw marks, while Gray Fox/Coyote pup tracks often do, which helps tell them apart The Gray Fox page has its own sign list.

Put something of known size next to it (a coin, a pen, a boot) and shoot straight down in soft light; low side light brings out the shape of tracks in mud or snow. For scat, photograph the whole deposit and one close-up showing contents. Note where it was: on a log, in the open, on a trail, near water. The app suggests the likely animal; confirm with the size and shape notes above.