How to deal with bobcats?

[Red Rabbit]

I'm stuck in Mountains 4. Can't hide from bobcats. Can't sneak past bobcats. Can't evade bobcats. Can't fight bobcats. What can I do with bobcats?

[ChristopherAG]

I just came here to post something similar.

I completed the level but I'm trying to complete all the optional objectives—not getting detected by the bobcats while trying to save all the villagers is giving me fits, even when using certain meteor shards.

[ThePhotoshop]

You have a few options, but it depends on your set of abilities. Smoke bombs will stun them and allow you to slip past unnoticed. You can directly freeze them with ice, or create ice walls to block them in, and block their line of sight. Additionally, panicking them by burning grass near them will not cause you to be detected while they are panicking. Once you have more earth points, you could also come back to the level once you've unlocked the Vine Trap or Parachute abilities for an even easier time.

[Red Rabbit]

I couldn't figure out how to unlock more abilities. Sometimes even if I have enough fire points, it still wouldn't let me. Even if I had smoke bomb, there's only one source of fire at the beginning of the level, and I assume, like every other ability, you only get to use it once per "embrace". And there's like 8 bobcats between there and the prisoners.

[Great Greedy Guts]

You need to put points into upgrading the earlier abilities to be able to upgrade later ones. You can do that on the world map, with the points gained from putting elements into the statue bowls. Honestly, getting to Mountains 4 without any upgrades feels pretty impressive already, though.

On the main question, bobcats retreat while you hold onto fire. That can be useful at keeping them at bay. You can also outrun them, so if you NEED to get past and can't arrange a way to jump over them (from standing on higher ground and jumping down/over) you might be able to find some water, dive on one side so they congregate to find you there (because they can't/won't dive themselves), then hop out on the other and just book it as fast as you can.