Because bob cat hide is so valuable I always used a 22 WMR or a standard 22 LR with HP ammo. I probably have killed about 50% of my cats with each round. A perfect hide brings between $550 and $700. I won't blow them up. I did OK with 50 grain Hornady SX bullets in my 222 Remington with no hide damage, but I decided to not even risk that anymore, so I went back to the 22 LR. Just 38 grain HP ammo and I shoot them in the chest. So far I have not found any need for something faster yet, and I have been killing them since about 1963.
But------ if I had a hornet I might think it was made just for cats. I have never owned a hornet, but I know men in Nevada and Idaho that do, and they swear buy them for hide hunting. You should go kill some then then post your results and tell us all.
22 Hornet loaded with the 40g Speer spire point(high velocity bullet) does not wreck cat or fox hides. Also, this bullet by it's design, can be seated to touch the lands in most hornets I have had. I used AA1680 powder which produces excellent accuracy, but not the fastest velocity.
You can also reload the 40g speer spire point with Blue Dot in a 223, and at 2600 fps seems to be the magic number for saving hides with a max velocity of blue dot in my rifle being around 3200 fps which did tear up hides a little.
Today, if looking for a good cat rifle, I would go with a Rem SPS stainless, load the Blue Dot load with the 40g Speer spire point, call it done...lots of plus' to going down this road. The Rem sps Stainless is a very accurate rifle and the 12 twist will help the bullet NOT Blow up, unlike an 8 or 9T is more prone to do.
I have shot a lot of cats and foxes with a 22 WRM using 40g Winchester HP, and a hit behind the diaphram may mean a lost animal as they can still breathe. My shots varied from 10 feet to 150 yards as a rule of thumb. Cats love bird sounds.
You can also reload the 40g speer spire point with Blue Dot in a 223, and at 2600 fps seems to be the magic number for saving hides
Odd you mention that cause thats what Ive found. Any conventional non-frangible bullet in any cartridge works well at that level. Ive used a number of 22 centerfires loaded like that on fur. Yes, they often exit, but its a .22 cal hole...
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
I used a standard .22 Hornet for several years and found it perfectly adequate for both coyotes and cats from 150 and in. I used mostly the sierra 45 gr soft point for Hornets and also on a few occasions used the 40 gr. Soft point also for Hornets. Both normally exit but it's small. Never blew a coyote, fox or cat up. It's a very good fur gun. I would just use it. Maybe work a few loads with the barnes bullet and the sierra and see which works best. I'm positive you will be able to find a load that meets your needs.
Just stumbled onto this thread and noted that there was some discussion on bobcat size. A buddy of mine shot a bobcat in Utah 5 years ago. When he check the cat in with the Utah Div of Wildlife Services, they weighed the cat at 46 lbs. A pig of a cat! He used his 50 year old Sako Forester .243 loaded with the 85 gr Barnes TSX. A bit of overkill, but Greg has used this same bullet on dozens of cats, numerous coyotes, a few deer, and a 6 pt bull elk! Never underestimate a man who shoots one gun!
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.
The first Bobcat I shot was laying in green grass outside of Alpine Texas. This cat was seemingly solid orange sleeping out in the grass. I unlimbered my early 788 223 and drilled him at 175 yards with a Remington 55 gr. factory load. All went well enough that I sold him to a taxidermist for $100. which back in 1973 seemed like a fortune. Still wish I had gone back to look at the mounted specimen. I would guess it weighed just a bit over 30 pounds.