The coastal mountains near you are full of them. I had one chase me while visiting a construction site in Palo Alto off of Alpine Rd. in the coastal mountains about 5 years ago.
You have to keep a sharp eye out because their tawny color blends so well with native grasses. I often see them while driving the Hwys near the coastal mountains.... you have to know what to look for in order to spot them.
I had one poke it’s head in my backpackers tent one night while in a quail hunting trip in the Los Padres National Forest near Oceano (Pismo Beach). It didn’t like the smell of my pointers and left post haste.
Encounters in the Anzo Borrego state park are frequent. Just a few months ago a man fought one off that was attacking a woman and her kids. Ranchers I know follow the 4 “S” rule. See, shoot, shovel, silence.
“I had one poke it’s head in my backpackers tent one night...”
Wow, that was one brave cat, or a very hungry one. They’re a fact of life in North America. I’ve made sure my kids know what to do if they encounter one.