This question is based on a Yahoo! Odd News article I read today (11-17-06). Look at the story. Is there any scientific knowledge on this subject--for or against?
2006-11-17 09:49:47 · 9 answers · asked by nirekelly27 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Not possible for cross species mating in nature.
2006-11-17 10:30:36 · answer #1 · answered by Pundit Bandit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone has posted this question and here is my take on it (as a scientist)
I dont think a dog could even impregnate a cat, even if viable offspring were produced (which I doubt). Queens (female fertile cats) need to be stimulated by the barbs on the males penis in order to ovulate (its the pain that causes ovulation). Dogs lack these barbs. Also, dogs "tie" after mating which ensures reproductive success, and obviously this couldnt happen with a cat.
The fact that these are two totally different genera of animals, I doubt a hybrid would be produced (a lyger or tyon are at least members of panthera genera, mules at least equines) - I am thinking perhaps the egg would not recognise the proteins on the sperm that allow fertilisation, as well as the body would detect a foetus as foreign and abort if it did manage to fertlise. If, by some freak of nature, offspring were produces these would be sterile (same as hybrids). The only thing that I can think of that may have happened to allow a cat to produce "pups" is if the cat was implanted with dog embryo's - allow the queen to be mated by a vasectomised male, so you get the stimilation causing ovolution with no implantation. The female then undergoes a pseudo-pregnancy and then embryos implanted...but even then the gestation length and size of the foetus etc....
Also, wouldnt a cat want to either run away from or attack a dog that came near it?? I am sure if my dog tried anything kinky with one of my cats he'd be missing something crucial!
2006-11-18 01:55:50 · answer #2 · answered by mudgettiger 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With the huge difference in number of chromosomes from the cat (38) to the dog (78). There is no way they could have offspring. Horses and donkeys are about as far apart as it gets (horses have 2 more chromosomes than donkeys and mule have an odd number). Also if you read that story it says that she gave birth 3 MONTHS after being with the dog. They are only pregnant for 2 months (similar to a dog).
More than likely, she had her kittens and someone gave her puppies to raise too (or maybe she found them).
2006-11-20 08:40:54 · answer #3 · answered by SabrinaD 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is entirely possible for a female cat and a male dog to mate! Conception of a hybrid between cats and dogs however would be impossible! The explanation given in the article - that the mother cat adopted the puppies, is far more likely.
2006-11-17 20:21:27 · answer #4 · answered by gshprd918 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know. Some different species can mate together to produce offspring. Take the mule for example. That's a cross between a horse and a donkey. The only thing is, it's infertile, which means it doesn't have a gender.
2006-11-17 21:00:04 · answer #5 · answered by Erica 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mate? Perhaps possible if the dog was small enough, but highly unlikely. Reproduce? Not a chance.
2006-11-17 23:47:36 · answer #6 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No way...completely different species...different number of chromosomes....impossible!! SOME VERY closely related animals can interbreed...like lions and tigers resulting in tigons and ligers, but these animals have the same # of chromosomes, and the offspring are sterile.
2006-11-17 22:40:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I seriously doubt the cat gave birth to puppies. I think the people who are making this claim were hoping to 'cash in' on it, but didn't know that the puppies could, or would, be tested for their chromosomal structure.
2006-11-17 18:12:13 · answer #8 · answered by eilishaa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i saw it too, and i was like....wat the ***???
2006-11-17 17:52:10 · answer #9 · answered by jason 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋