The first Bobcat skid steer was designed and built in 1957 by the Keller brothers and introduced to the market in 1960. The original design was intended for farm use and it included an engine positioned behind the driver and above a single, swiveled rear wheel. The Bobcat skid steer was recently granted a Historic Landmark award, a recognition that only other 42 agricultural events and inventions have received in the past 75 years.

The Bobcat skid steer model is still characterized by its ''skid'' steering and by having the engine and a counterweight in the back of the machine. It is a compact vehicle which is lighter, smaller, and more maneuverable than a conventional front loader. The Bobcat skid steer is very commonly found in construction and landscaping sites, where it can scrape, dig, push, lift, and load materials.

The wide tilting bucket on the front of a Bobcat skid steer can scrape and move earth or any other loose material from one location to another. Because the bucket can move up and down, it can also load the material onto a truck, trailer, or container. Although operator safety may have once been a concern in these machines, nowadays enclosed cabins and other features provide absolute safety.

The Bobcat skid steer is especially useful wherever limitations in space do not allow for the use of larger heavy equipment. Beyond construction and landscaping, the Bobcat skid steer is also used for digging and operating in the farming and industrial fields. In order to respond to different job needs, the conventional bucket in a Bobcat skid steer may be replaced with a wide variety of specialized buckets and attachments.