There’s an urban legend that claims the majestic Maine Coon got here from the cross of a Norwegian cat and a raccoon. This myth is probably going as a result of the undeniable fact that the Maine Coon is a big feline with distinctive markings which can be somewhat harking back to a raccoon’s stripes. But while it’s true that cats and raccoons can sometimes cross paths, especially in urban and suburban areas, these encounters don’t end in tiny “cat-coon” or “rac-cat” babies. Cats and raccoons cannot mate and reproduce—irrespective of how lovable such offspring could be!
Let’s take a better take a look at why some species can successfully interbreed and why this is just not the case with cats and raccoons. There are also great recommendations on keeping your feline friend secure in the event that they enterprise outside.
Can Two Different Species Mate?
It’s not that frequent within the wild, but two different but related species can indeed reproduce. This process is named hybridization, and it might probably occur in each animals and plants. When two different species mate successfully, their offspring is named a hybrid. More often than not, hybrids are sterile, meaning they will’t have babies (though this isn’t all the time the case).
That said, scientists don’t all agree on easy methods to define species. The “Biological Species Concept” is often used to separate different animals and plants into various species. In keeping with this principle, animals that can’t breed together or that may breed but produce sterile offspring are classified as different species.
Some scientists classify species based on notable physical and environmental differences—for instance, differences in color, behavior, habitat, or geographic location. Other scientists use genetic differences, that are sections of DNA containing small differences called mutations. Typically, members of various species are unable to breed as a result of these genetic barriers. Indeed, that is the very definition of the term “species,” which comes back to the Biological Species Concept; two animals incapable of reproducing are classified as two different species.
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Are All Hybrids Sterile?
While it’s true that the majority hybrids are unable to breed, there are instances where hybrids can have babies. This happens when a hybrid mates with one other hybrid or with a member of the identical species as considered one of its parents. For instance, when a male lion and a female tiger hybridize, they produce a liger. 90% of male ligers are sterile but a lot of the female ligers are fertile and will be successfully bred back to a tiger or a lion.
Interestingly, based on the authors of an article published within the journal Frontiers, the existence of fertile hybrids poses a certain scientific challenge, because it contradicts a fundamental principle of the Biological Species Concept, which suggests that two distinct species mustn’t be able to mating and producing fertile babies. Nevertheless, this doesn’t imply that the parents of hybrids should not distinct species; fairly, it highlights that the concept of ‘biological species’ may not apply to all species.
So, Why Can’t Cats and Raccoons Mate?
You could have heard that cats and raccoons can sometimes mate, but these claims should not supported by any credible evidence. Scientifically, there are not any documented cases of successful interspecies breeding between these two animals.
Cats and raccoons belong to distinct families inside the order Carnivora. Indeed, cats are a part of the Felidae family, while raccoons are classified within the Procyonidae family. If we take a look at the liger, which has a tiger mother and a lion father, we will see that although they’re different species, they belong to the identical genus, Panthera, which explains their interbreeding success. This is just not the case for raccoons and cats.
Tips on how to Keep Your Cat Secure Outdoors
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Although cats and raccoons cannot mate, they do often cross paths within the wild, particularly in areas where human development encroaches upon natural habitats. These interactions can result in quite a lot of outcomes, a few of which may pose risks to your cat. Rabies, for instance, is a big concern, and raccoons are known carriers of this deadly virus. In case your cat gets right into a fight with a raccoon, there’s a probability of disease transmission through bites or scratches.
Considering the potential risks posed by interactions with raccoons and other wildlife, it’s essential to take measures to make sure your cat’s safety once they enterprise outside.
Listed below are a number of helpful suggestions:
- Monitor their time spent outdoors. If possible, attempt to supervise your cat’s comings and goings. To maintain them truly secure, construct a secure outdoor enclosure, commonly called a catio, to offer a secure outdoor space on your cat without exposing them to the hazards of wildlife.
- Keep your cat in your home at night. Since raccoons are primarily nocturnal creatures, it’s best to maintain your cat indoors within the evenings and at night.
- Ensure that your cat’s vaccinations are up so far. This is very essential for diseases like rabies.
- Microchip your cat, and get them a collar with an identification tag. In the event that they wander away or injured, this may increase the probabilities of their secure return.
- Spay or neuter your cat. Besides the assorted health advantages of those procedures, spaying or neutering your pet will greatly reduce their desire to roam and get into trouble. It’s going to also reduce infections which can be sexually transmitted akin to Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (the cat version of HIV).
Bottom Line
Although interspecies breeding is technically possible and might even end in fertile hybrids like ligers, there isn’t a scientific data proving that such a relationship can happen between a raccoon and a cat. That said, the risks linked to random encounters between these two species are very real, akin to the transmission of contagious diseases or the danger of injury within the event of a fight.
Due to this fact, when you let your cat roam freely outside, ensure that to watch their comings and goings as much as possible, and above all, be certain that their vaccinations are up so far. Don’t try to draw raccoons to your own home simply because they appear lovable and harmless!
Featured Image Credit: Corina Muresan, Shutterstock