Remember the animated American series Catdog that used to come on Nickelodeon? Where they were two conjoined brothers from two different series? One was a cat, and the other was a dog. Well, can this happen in real life? Can a dog get a cat pregnant and have offspring?
No, it is not possible. It is not possible for a dog to get a cat pregnant. Lets explore in detail why a dog cannot get a cat pregnant:
Can a dog get a cat pregnant?
The crisp and short answer to this question is NO. It is not possible for a dog to impregnate a cat. Both animals belong to different groups of animal species – Canidae (dogs) and Felidae (cats). Both species have very different reproductive systems as well as a different set of hormones, which makes it impossible to create a hybrid. Cat eggs and dog sperm are very different in shape, thus making it impossible for the sperm to penetrate through the eggs.
So it is impossible for the pregnancy to happen even if they mate. If you are a cat and dog parent, it is better to take precautions if they live in close proximity. Get them spayed or neutered, and ensure that they are both safe.
Basic Biological Differences Between A Cat And A Dog
Cats and dogs are two absolutely different species with discrete biological features that thwart them from effectively mating. Dogs have multiple fertility periods in a year, called polyestrous, while cats have only one, making them monoestrous.
Cats have 38 chromosomes, while a dog possesses 78 chromosomes. This explains why a cat cannot get pregnant by a dog. Along with that, dogs and cats have massive different pregnancy spans. Dogs have a pregnancy span of two months, whereas the pregnancy period of a cat is approximately four months, which is twice a dog’s gestation period.
The shape of their reproductive cells is also different, which makes it impossible for dog sperm to penetrate the cat eggs. Their biological features are very different, making it impossible to produce offspring together: part dog and part cat.
The mating cycle experienced by female dogs consists of four main parts – proestrus, estrus, diestrus, and anestrus. During the proestrus, the female dog experience vulva swelling and vaginal discharge containing blood. During this stage, the female is not yet ready for mating but tries to catch the attention of male dogs.
Then comes the estrus phase which lasts for around 9 days. Ovulation takes place during this stage. Female dogs start displaying mating behavior and also becomes receptive to mating.
On the other hand, female cats do not go through a regular mating cycle like female dogs. Instead their ovulation remains in a state of limbo till mating takes place. Mating helps in stimulating ovulation in female cats.
Is It Remotely Possible To Have A Cat And Dog Hybrid?
There is no chance for a cat and dog hybrid. They have evolved differently, and creating a hybrid is biologically impossible. This can only happen in those science fiction and in animated series like the one they had in Nickelodeon.
But a cat can mate with a cat from different species, or dogs mate with dogs from different species. It takes a lot of effort to do that as well.
Why Does A Dog Mount A Cat?
It is not possible for them to create a hybrid together, but that doesn’t mean it is not possible for a dog to mount on a cat. Dogs have been known for showing a dominant behavior, and in certain cases, that includes humping.
This kind of behavior generally portrays dominance over the other species, but some experts say that this is some kind of sexual play for them.
Everything aside, it is important to check the behavior of a dog around the cat and take necessary precautions. To reduce this kind of behavior, neutering or spraying is recommended.
Is It Possible To Mate A Dog With A Cat In The Laboratory?
It is impossible for a dog and cat hybridization in the wild, but it can happen in a laboratory. But there are several conditions for it. In this process, cats and dogs are surgically altered to make their organs compatible with one another.
This process of artificial fertilization requires extensive research and knowledge of biology and also animal farming. It is a very risky and difficult process. It is important to stay aware of the possible risks as well as rewards before getting into such a difficult procedure.
At home, it is not possible as the sperm of a dog cannot penetrate the egg of a cat due to their shape difference. So keep them safe if they live together.
Is It Possible For A Dog To Stop Humping A Cat?
If you want to stop your dog from humping your cat, the first thing that you have to do is know the reason behind this humping. Identifying and then addressing the cause of humping is the key to stopping this behavior.
If you see him portraying dominating behavior, then be an alpha and step up between them. Put yourself in an authority figure and get them checked. This will get you respect from your dog, and they will learn to behave properly through training as well.
If you see your pet humping inappropriately, get in between them. Intervene when you see that happening. Try doing something firm like making a loud noise, or raining your voice at them and remove them from the situation. Later on reward them for their good behavior when they are trained.
Reports That Are There For Cat And Dog Hybrid
There are many reports for cat and dog hybrid but mostly they are mistaken identities. Sometimes if they look similar they gets mistaken as a hybrid. It is impossible for this hybrid to happen biologically, nature dose not allow it. Their menstrual cycle, hormones, reproductive organs are different and that makes it impossible for this pregnancy to happen.
Are There Any Other Animals That Dogs Can Mate With?
By now you know that a dog cannot get a cat pregnant because they belong to different species and have completely different DNA. But can dogs mate with other animals? The answer is – yes, dogs can mate with other animals who have similar DNA and/or belong to the same family. What are these animals?
Let’s check them out –
Wolfdogs
Unlike cats, dogs can easily mate with wolves because they are more closely related to each other than any other species. It is commonly known that modern domestic dogs that we see around us are descendants of the grey wolf.
Because of this modern day dogs and wolves have 98.8% of the same DNA which makes them compatible to mate with each other. Not only can wolves and dogs mate, they can also produce viable wolfdog offspring.
Dogote
Both dogs and coyote belong to the Canidae family and therefore have a lot of genetic similarities. This allows dogs and coyotes to successfully mate with each other and their offsprings are known as dogote or coydogs. But even though dogs and coyotes are biologically capable of mating with each other, it is a rare occurrence.
This is because coyotes and dogs have very different mating cycle. A female domestic dog generally go through two heat cycles a year whereas coyotes mate during January to March.
Jackal-Dog
Jackals and dogs possess the same number of chromosomes which is 78 arranged in 39. As a result dogs can also mate with jackals easily and produce offsprings known as Jackal-dogs.
Wrapping up!
To get a recap it is absolutely not possible to get this hybridization. So to make things clear if we are asked, “can a cat get pregnant by a dog?” The answer is NO. Again if we are asked “ can a female cat get pregnant by a male dog?” The answer will again be NO.
So if you got a a female cat and a male dog at home, observe them closely, especially during the mating season. Make sure to give you cat some space if they are getting overwhelmed by your dog if he keeps humping and take care of his behavior as well.
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