How wonderful it would be if we could have the loyalty and playfulness of dogs mixed with the adorable purrs of cats, as one, right!!!
Time and again, several hoaxes have made their way to public attention, seemingly claiming to have discovered hybrid babies between cats and dogs. Also called kuppies, cogs, kittens, puppy-cats, or dog-cats, many individuals like this have certainly caused a successful commotion amongst pet owners. But is the whole ordeal possible or too good to be true???
Can a dog get a cat pregnant?
NO!!! A dog can never make a cat pregnant naturally or through scientific processes. This is because both animals have distinct mating functions, times, and reproductive organs and belong to different families, species, and genera. Thus, while you may witness either of them mounting each other on several occasions due to multiple factors, getting pregnant or having offspring is just not possible between these two species.
While it is nearly impossible for a female cat to let a male dog mount it successfully, there will be no result, even if it does happen. There is a considerable difference between the mating process of both species, and hence a dog’s sperm will never be able to fertilize a cat’s egg. So, no additional risk of producing a hybrid kuppie or cogs, whatever name you like the best.
Can they lock when mating?
Given their completely different external and internal features, a dog and a cat can never lock during the process. When two dogs mate, a part of the dog’s penis swells and enlarges inside the female’s body which is further contracted around by the female’s vaginal muscles. This prevents the male’s penis from being extracted until the ejaculation is complete.
However, during coitus in cats, the male cat’s penis is tightly stuck inside the female’s body, therefore locking the two partners. Their genitalia has unique white barbs, which, when inside, stimulates the female to ovulate by scratching their genitals. Even though it seems like a cruel approach, it increases fertilization efficiency by ensuring more excellent production of hormones.
Then why is my male dog trying to mount my female cat???
A weird encounter to witness, pet owners can indeed be baffled watching such situations unfold in their presence. However, there are several reasons as to why your male dog might be trying to lure the female cat into mating.
Dominance
Although both the species have started enjoying comfort in each other’s presence, the century-old enmity is no joke. So, if you have a ‘bully canine’ that spares no instance to show other pets who’s the boss, a greater chance is that the action is a display of dominance. As mating often requires females to submit to their male counterparts, your dog might be trying to gain submission from the female cat. They often exhibit such actions with a high posture and an intimidating direct eye contact into their target’s eyes.
Play
No wonder both cats and dogs are super curious by nature. Thus, sometimes simple playtime may even lead to your male woofer humping on your kitty. This is because playtime typically means having fun and chilling out with your best mate *ahem, I mean your cat mate*. And given those playful nipping, crazy chasing, or pushing each other, things can go haywire and super exciting. As a result, this leads to an erection on the male dog’s part which later leads to playful humping, which is no big deal. So, the next time you witness such an act, make sure to distract either of them with a toy or food or drop the cue to ‘leave it’ so that they know such behaviors are not allowed.
Stress or Jealousy
Unlike common misconceptions, pets also have feelings of their own. So, biassed closeness to one pet can infuriate the other, leading to the onset of stress or negative emotions like jealousy or possessiveness. The pet may not eat or play well and might start humping the other too excessively, as a sign to show dominance and hence make them seem superior. The same is also possible if your pup has severe separation anxiety. Therefore, a thorough vet checkup is highly essential, depending on the frequency of such cases.
Heat
Although naturally, dogs are never sexually attracted to cats and vice versa, hormones might be the reason behind these flickering outbursts. Generally, during the mating periods, intact pets go crazy, thanks to the bursting hormones inside their little bodies. So, even though they might be humping your leg, their favorite fluffy toy, or even your pillows, they won’t think twice before trying the same on your female cat. This is why many vets recommend getting your pets neutered or spayed from an early age, as it helps them control their biological urges and hence not present you with such embarrassing moments.
Health conditions
Reportedly, certain underlying health conditions may also trigger such behavior in either pet. The only relief for male dogs having prostate problems is by humping something, no matter if it’s your leg or your beautiful female cat. The pain in their groin area makes them agitated and hence such situations. Thus, if you have been recently witnessing a spike in your male dog’s humping behavior, it is better to have them check out before it worsens. Other health conditions that cause such episodes include UTI, urinary incontinence, and even skin allergies.
How to stop this behavior?
Just like any other destructive behavior, you will be required to train or retrain your pets into behaving well. See, cats and dogs are innocent, simple-minded creatures, and therefore they do as they like. So, if you have an issue with their weird cross-mating preference, you are needed to make them understand the same. You can’t just sit around thinking everything will be okay with a few ‘No Jack, No Molly.’
Opt for a licensed trainer
Tending to behavioral problems is not as simple as it seems. Hence, it is better to consult a licensed behavioral expert than go for any so-called ‘professional dog trainer.’ With their years of experience and practical knowledge, they will know what to do, saving you both time and energy. You may also want to take advice from your vet and see what you can do best for both of them.
Isolate them
In case you are unable to get in touch with an excellent licensed behavioral expert due to ‘n’ number of reasons, keeping the fluff balls isolated from each other might work. This will give you ample time to identify the triggering cause better and make changes to it without having to spend huge bucks on hiring a professional. But you will still require the vet’s advice to make the whole deal work.
Enforce Positive reinforcement training methods
Another option you can try out on your own is applying positive reinforcement training methods. Start by marking the before-humping behaviors of your male dog and female cat, respectively. In the next instance, you spot the subtle behavior changes like nipping, pawing, licking, or panting, distract your pets using food or verbal cues. You can also introduce ‘time out zones’ if they are just not in the mood to listen to you. Take each pet to separate isolated time zones and keep them there until they have visibly calmed down.
There will be instances when you might come across a seemingly genuine photo of a dog-cat hybrid on the internet, but always remember, “Not everything that sparkles is gold.”
With this, we would like to conclude our last spree of 2020 on exciting topics regarding dogs. Let’s meet again next time. Till then, take care, stay safe and Have a Happy Joyful New Year.
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