Can you eat bobcats: Is it Legal or Ethical to Eat a Bobcat?

There are some animals, especially cats which are not recommended for eating purposes. But the people who like to do adventurous things also like to eat a variety of meat. Bobcat also comes in the category of these animals. Sometimes people eat for the sake of survival if they find nothing for survival in the wilderness.

Most of the time people hunt down them and eat them just to change the taste of their meat. In this article, we are going to answer many questions regarding the eating of bobcats like Can you eat bobcats? What it would taste like? Is it risky to eat these cats?

Do people eat bobcats?

In simple words, yes we can eat bobcats. Usually, the meat of predators like bobcats is not recommended but the bobcat is an exceptional case. It is usually recommended to eat the meat of plant-eaters only. That’s why the eating of animals like lions, cheetahs, leopards, and tiger is strictly not recommended.

Native Americans have also been eating bobcats for many decades as a primary source of their food. Does it also depend on how we prepare the meat of bobcats? It must be prepared properly to avoid any risk of hazards.

There are also some risks which are associated with eating the meat of bobcats. You need to keep these risks in mind and reduce them as much as possible. It is also necessary to keep in mind the rules and regulations regarding the hunting and trapping of bobcats in any certain state.

Are bobcats good to eat?

No, Bobcats are not recommended or good to eat. Some ancient people had been eating these cats at a certain time but it is not suitable and healthy to eat these cats. These cats are small-sized animals and you will get meat in a very less quantity. Moreover, these cats also intake a lot of toxic substances to meet the needs of their food. That’s why these cats also contain a lot of poisonous contaminants.

There is also a possibility of transmitting dangerous parasites and diseases from eating the meat of these cats. It is also illegal to hunt these cats. However, if you find any killed bobcats at the side of the road or in the wilderness, it is not recommended to eat these cats.

Why are bobcats hunted?

Nowadays, bobcats are hunted not for the sake of eating. These cats are actually being hunted for many reasons and mainly commercial reasons. In some areas, these cats are considered pests and hunted down for the protection of livestock. Bobcats are also hunted for fulfilling recreational activities. Sometimes the bobcat is killed to reduce the excessive predation on animals like deer, rabbits, etc. Mainly bobcats are hunted for getting pelts and many other commercial reasons.

What does a bobcat taste like?

There are very few people who have actually tasted the bobcats because it is very rare to catch or hunt these cats due to their stealthy nature. There are also certain rules and regulations which have prohibited the hunting of bobcats. It means most of the predictions and opinions about the taste or eating of the bobcats are just fake perceptions or attention seekers’ lies.

However, some people consider the taste of bobcats the same as the taste of chicken. It is a very cliché statement and most people go with this statement. But one of my friends has actually personally experienced the taste of a bobcat. According to him, the meat of the bobcats is white meat and highly delicious if we cook it properly. It will give you the taste of pork.

If we grill it properly then you can also enjoy the crispy texture of the bobcat which has its own taste. There are also some other recipes available for cooking bobcat meat like firstly mixing it with eggs in a frying pan and then cooking it slowly and gradually on a slow-heating stove. However, you will not be disappointed in whatever way you are going to cook it.

Nutritious value of bobcat meat

Bobcat meat has a lot of nutritious importance. The main ingredients of the bobcat’s meat are riboflavin, zinc, selenium, iron, proteins, fats, and niacin. Moreover, you can consume at least three grams of cholesterol and 134 calories if you just take three ounces of bobcat meat.

Dangers of eating bobcat

Some foody experts have declared that meat is okay to consume in whatever quantity you like to consume. However, all the medical experts have advised to never consume this meat, only if there is a threat to your survival or you have nothing to eat in the wilderness. If you consume the meat of a bobcat then first of all you will face food-borne illnesses. There could be following diseases associated with this illness.

• Stomach cramps.
• Nauseas.
• Fatigue.
• Headache.
• Fever.
• Poor appetite.
• Blurred vision.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.

If you think the bobcat meat is worthy of taking these risks, then you can take it otherwise you must be extra conscious. Some of these diseases could also lead to a life-threatening situation for you or even reach you close to death. However, it is also possible to reduce the negative impacts of these diseases by properly cooking and cleaning the meat thoroughly before consuming it.

Bobcats have also taken some diseases from human beings, especially urban-based bobcats. Most of the bobcats living in urban areas are at risk of parasite-like illnesses like giardia duodenalis, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp, etc.

What are the risks of eating raw bobcat meat?

Generally, it is not recommended to eat raw bobcat meat. All raw meats, not just bobcat meat contain harmful bacteria and many nasty microorganisms and these bacteria could make you extremely sick once you consume it. The first infection you can get is in the form of Toxoplasmosis.

It could be deadly for people having very weak immunity and pregnant women and children. You could also face the risk of Salmonella, which lead to food poisoning and causes diseases like nausea, vomiting, and fever. There is also the risk of a very common parasite named trichinella. It causes extreme muscle pain and inflammation in the brain and heart.

Thus, it is better to cook the meat properly and reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit before consuming it to keep yourself safe from any untoward situation. Cooking is the only way to eliminate harmful germs and other bad stuff from your meat.

Can we eat the skin of a bobcat?

Yes, you can eat the skin of a bobcat but there are certain conditions that you need to fulfill. You must remove the fur of the bobcat properly before cooking then clean it properly. You must also cook it thoroughly and it is better to grill it if you want to eat it skin. The skin can only give you a good taste if you marinate and cook it properly.

Is it safe to eat the bones of the bobcat?

No, it is not recommended and safe to eat the bones of the bobcat. The bones of the bobcat are very hard and it might break your teeth. In the worst-case scenario, it could choke your intestines or lacerate you internally. However, bones could also be beneficial if get the marrow inside the bones. For this purpose, you must boil it for at least 1 to 1.5 hours. In this way, you can get all the delicious and healthy broth full of proteins and minerals inside the bowl. It can be served as a soup. After drinking the broth, you could also break the bones and extract the marrow from it and eat it.

Is it safe to eat the organs of bobcats?

Yes, it is safe to eat them but you must be educated about its organ and know how it cooks them properly. It is also not recommended to eat these organs even if you are eating them for survival purposes. All the organs are safe to eat if you clean and cook them properly. The best and safest organ to eat is the heart and then comes the liver and kidney.

The liver might be very nutritious but it also contains very high toxins if the cat is not healthy. The kidney could also contain a lot of gross waste. The stomach and intestines must be avoided as there is not much information about them.

How to cook bobcat meat?

It is generally said that we should not eat meat-eater animals like bobcats and coyotes. But there is nothing wrong if you cook these animals properly. Here we are going to answer the question that how we should cook bobcat meat. The meat of the bobcat is almost the same as the meat of the pork. It has almost the same taste, texture, and flavor as pork.

The meat of the bobcat could absorb every flavor which you added to it. But slow cooking is preferred for cooking these cats. First of all, you must brine it to reduce the toughness of its muscles and tissues. You can also leach any blood if it has been left inside the cat.

Blood removal is necessary as it could give a wild taste. After that mix it with the salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano. Now add remaining ingredients like bobcat hams, jalapeno, red onion, cilantro, garlic, green chilies, etc and after that cook it on slower heat.

Conclusion

Bobcat is a wild cat and it is not recommended or safe to eat wild animals. However, if there are worst circumstances and you have nothing to eat and your survival is at risk, then you can eat it after fulfilling certain conditions like cleaning and cooking it properly. It is better to not eat the organs of the bobcats. However, there are certain health risks which are associated with the eating of wild animals like bobcats. Moreover, it is also strictly prohibited to hunt these cats in some areas let alone eat them. Thus, it is better to not hunt and eat them as it is not good for the functioning of our ecosystem.