When David Schneider and his wife pulled into their driveway in Santa Clarita, California, David noticed something furry lingering at the edge of their yard. One glance at the animal’s spotted coat, tufted ears and striped legs made it clear — it was a bobcat.
“I ran inside to grab my camera,” Schneider told The Dodo. “It was only after I started taking photos that I realized there were actually two of them.”
For the next hour, Schneider watched in quiet amazement as the pair — likely a mother and her kitten — transformed his backyard into their own private playground.
From about 25 yards away, Schneider observed as the bobcats wrestled and chased each other like oversized house cats, rolling through the grass and pouncing in surprise attacks.
“Sometimes they’d stand up on their hind legs, almost like kangaroos boxing,” Schneider said. “They were sneak-attacking, running after each other … and even climbed a tree.”
With his camera set to action mode, Schneider captured more than 1,000 photos of the playful duo.
Based on their size difference and the way they interacted, Schneider believes the two were a mama bobcat and her growing kitten. One moment in particular stood out to him.
“They would bump their heads and faces together,” he said. “It’s such a tender, intimate gesture. Seeing that kind of bond between wild animals was a real ‘awww’ moment.”
Schneider’s home backs up to a hillside, and encounters with wildlife aren’t uncommon. He regularly spots bobcats, coyotes and red-shouldered hawks roaming nearby, and once even caught a bobcat inspecting his patio.
Working from home allows him to keep a camera close, ready to capture these rare glimpses into wild lives.
“Seeing their markings up close was incredible,” Schneider said. “They’re such beautiful animals — it almost looks like they’re wearing white eyeliner.”
While the experience felt magical, Schneider is mindful of keeping his distance and respecting the animals’ space.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, bobcats give birth in late spring or early summer, meaning the kitten he saw was likely between 4 and 7 months old. Before long, the young bobcat will head off on its own, playing a vital role in keeping California’s ecosystem balanced.
“I feel very lucky they’re close by,” Schneider said. “And that they feel safe enough around us to just be themselves.”
