A large cat crossing a road or appearing on a backyard camera can quickly turn into a neighborhood debate: bobcat or panther?

Florida has two native wild cats, and size is the biggest difference between them.

Bobcats are about twice the size of a domestic cat, generally around three feet long, with a short tail that looks cut off or “bobbed.”

They are usually tan to yellowish brown with dark streaks or spots, and the backs of their ears often show white markings.

Florida panthers are dramatically larger.

Adults are uniformly tawny rather than distinctly spotted and can measure roughly six to seven feet from nose to tail.

The tail is one of the clearest clues because a panther’s tail is long and nearly as long as its body, while a bobcat’s tail is only a few inches long.

Perspective can make backyard-camera images misleading.

A bobcat close to the camera may appear enormous, while a panther farther away can look smaller than it really is.

Tracks can help when a clear print is available.

Panther tracks are much larger than bobcat tracks, and both cats generally leave rounder feline prints without the prominent claw marks often seen in dog or coyote tracks.

The long tail is the easiest visual clue to remember.

Panthers are endangered and are most concentrated in South Florida, although individual animals have been documented well beyond the core population.

Bobcats are widely distributed throughout Florida and are far more commonly encountered.

If you see either animal, keep your distance and bring pets inside.

Do not approach, chase or attempt to feed a wild cat.

The practical takeaway: short tail and smaller spotted body usually mean bobcat; long tail and much larger uniform tawny body point toward a Florida panther.