Skip to Content

Can a Dog Get a Cat Pregnant?

Please share!

*This post may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclaimer for additional details..

One way nature has responded to some adverse human impacts on the environment is hybridization.

Hybridization is a process through which animals of different species breed to produce a hybrid (the offspring of the breeding).

You will find animals like chickens & guinea fowls, zebras & horses, tigers & lions, and goats & sheep producing hybrids.

But let’s go a bit more domestic.

cat and dog comfort each other

Can a dog get a cat pregnant?

A cat cannot get pregnant by a dog. Cats have 38 chromosomes where dogs have 78 chromosomes. This mismatch in DNA makes it possible for either dogs and cats to interbreed.

The reverse is also true.

A dog cannot get pregnant by a cat. Due to their chromosomal differences, this is scientifically impossible.

They do not belong to the same species, genus, subfamily, or family.

In some animals, albeit rarely, these dissimilarities may not matter. But between cats and dogs, the differences make successful interbreeding impossible.

The rest of this article answers more questions about breeding between a cat and a dog.

We also discuss some cat hybrids and dog hybrids.

Dog and cat together

Can a Dog Get a Cat Pregnant?

Interbreeding is possible between animals of different species, genera, and families.

However, the possibility drops with increasing differences between the breeding animals.

In other words, animals of different species are more likely to breed successfully than animals of different genera.

In the same vein, breeding between animals from different genera is more likely to succeed than breeding between those of differing families.

In the case of cats and dogs, they belong to different families.

Cats belong to the Felidae family, while dogs belong to the Canidae family. So, the chances of interbreeding between them are extremely slim to impossible.

Can a Dog Give Birth to a Cat?

A dog cannot give birth to a cat. Even if it were possible for dogs and cats to breed successfully, the resulting offspring would neither be a cat nor a dog.

When dogs breed with other dogs, they can only give birth to dogs.

Can a Cat Give Birth to a Dog?

A cat cannot give birth to a dog for the same reasons dogs cannot give birth to cats.

Puppy and kitten hugging

Can a Female Dog Get Pregnant by a Male Cat?

A female dog cannot get pregnant by a male cat. In the same vein, a female cat cannot get pregnant by a male dog.

The genetic differences in their chromosomes would prevent the formation of a viable zygote.

Besides, it is unlikely that a dog will have sex with a cat and vice versa. The cat would most likely bolt before it happens.

Dog Hybrids

Now that we know that there has never been a cat-dog hybrid, let’s talk about some animals dogs can cross with.

Wolf-dog

Wolfdog in the meadow

A wolfdog is a hybrid produced from breeding between wolves and domestic dogs.

This can be between any domestic dog and either a red wolf, gray wolf, or Ethiopian wolf.

Since domestic dogs and wolves belong to the same genus, it is no surprise that they can interbreed successfully.

Breeding of wolfdogs is seen more between domestic dogs and gray wolves.

Gray wolves and domestic dogs belong to the same species – they only differ by subspecies.

So, as you can imagine, they are pretty close genetically.

As expected from a hybrid, wolf-dogs inherit traits of both a dog and a wolf.

They appear to be healthier than the individual parents. However, in general, their temperament is unpredictable.

In some wolfdogs, the predatory instinct of the wolf could be predominant. So, if such a wolfdog is kept as a pet, it might attack humans and other pets.

Coy-dog

A coy-dog is a hybrid of a dog and a coyote.

Both animals belong to the same Canis genus, hence they share a lot of genetic similarities.

So, it is not surprising that they can form viable offspring.

Coy-dogs are rare. This is in part due to the difference in the mating cycles of dogs and coyotes.

This difference makes mating between dogs and coyotes unlikely. But some breeds of dogs go into heat twice a year, and this rarity offers the possibility of mating between the animals.

Coy-dogs are described as not being typically outgoing or playful.

Unlike many other hybrid animals, they are fertile but not as much so as dogs.

Coy-dogs get their traits from the parent dog and coyote.

So, like the coyote, they have piercing eyes, and they can be aggressive too. But like dogs, they are intelligent and loyal.

Due to their aggressiveness, a coy-dog is not a good option for a family pet.

However, if one intends to keep them, the handler must understand natural canine behavior and be firm and confident or the coy-dog might have an unstable personality.

Jackal-Dog Hybrid

Shy golden jackal hybrid

Dogs also crossbreed with golden jackals to produce the jackal-dog hybrid.

This hybrid has been seen repeatedly in captivity.

Jackals have heightened sensory organs and can smell from a distance. As expected, jackal-dog hybrids also have this heightened sense of smell.

But they may also be hard to train because of the jackal traits in them.

One of the known jackal-dog hybrids is the Sulimov dog.

This breed is used in Russia as airport security – for sniffing drugs and explosives.

Jackals have a great sense of smell – a trait useful for sniffing explosives and drugs.

But they are hard to train. So, to make them trainable while retaining their exceptional sense of smell, they were crossbred with Northern Huskies.

Cat Hybrids

The following are some cat hybrids created from domestic cats and other animals:

Bengal

The Bengal cat is a hybrid formed from a cross between domestic cats and Asian leopard cats.

What we have here is an intergeneric hybrid since leopard cats and domestic cats belong to different genera.

While the Asian leopard cat is a wild cat, its hybrid with domestic cats, the Bengal cat has been domesticated.

But even though Bengals are domestic cats, they retain the agility and strength of a wild cat.

They also have spots similar to those on the fur of the Asian leopard cats. Still, these cats are affectionate and playful with humans.

Bengal cats are usually medium-sized or large. They are quite active, alert, and smart.

Savannah Cat

Cat Savannah

The Savannah cat is another hybrid formed by a domestic cat and a serval.

The hybridization here is also intergeneric since servals belong to a different genus from domestic cats.

Servals are wild cats. So, it is not too surprising that Savannah cats have an evident hunting instinct.

But, even at that, they are mild.

Savannah cats tolerate other cats and dogs.

But if you have birds, a fish pet, or any other small pet, they might hunt it.

Savannah cats look a lot like servals; they come in similar colors bearing similar spots.

Chausie

Chausies are a product of interbreeding between jungle cats and domestic cats.

Unlike the other 2 examples, this hybridization is interspecific. Jungle cats and domestic cats belong to the same genus but different species.

Chausies are energetic, athletic, active, and they are keen hunters.

They are typically large, and they look a bit like mountain lions.

While Chausies are fearless, they are not usually aggressive. They are trainable and playful.

Given sufficient time, they should bond with their humans. Chausies are generally healthy, but they are quite prone to food allergies.

Final Take

Dogs and cats are vastly genetically dissimilar.

They do not belong to the same species, genera, or family.

This fact makes the chances of a cat getting pregnant by a dog impossible.

In fewer words, it is impossible for a dog to impregnate a cat and vice versa.

Resources