# What would happen if you put a platypus and a cat in a room together? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565 "2012-02-12T00:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/1 "2012-02-12T00:15:07Z")
Say you had a completely empty room. What if you put a typical domestic cat, and a platypus, in it? Let’s assume that the door is closed. Would they fight? Would they be friendly with each other? Would they just run as far away from each other as possible? If they fought, who would be more likely to instigate aggression - the cat, or the platypus? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/2 "2012-02-12T00:20:52Z")
Since I doubt there are any controlled experiments on the subject, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/3 "2012-02-12T00:26:51Z")
hopefully a dead cat. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/4 "2012-02-12T00:29:41Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vNla3yaoefs/hqdefault.jpg "Cat and platypus!!!!!!!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNla3yaoefs) ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/5 "2012-02-12T00:34:07Z")
Depends- is it a male platypus? Females have no venom, but males are known for being a bit agressive, especially during the breeding season, and then they have a pretty nasty venom- so at least at that time, I’d expect a male to win, if a fight started. The cat could just stay out of the way though- platypuses can hardly climb so well, and aren’t very fast on the ground. The rest of the time, probably the cat would win, if they actually fought. The platypus would probably just try find somewhere to hide, the cat might well be curious, and start batting at it or trying to kill it- depends on the cat. Too many variables. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/6 "2012-02-12T00:34:11Z")
Damn you. I was sorely hoping for actual footage - not a frickin’ cartoon! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/7 "2012-02-12T05:35:27Z")
If the cat gets jabbed it will probably die. > [@](#): > > Generally, the platypus is a very shy creature which will avoid contact with humans. > However, the male platypus also has the distinction of being the world’s most poisonous mammal. This creature has a small, hollow, poisonous spur on the back of each of its hind feet. The poison cannot kill a person, but it will cause swelling and excruciating pain. The poison is enough to kill an animal the size of a small dog, and the platypus will only use it in self-defense. Both have them at birth but females shed them after 3 months. Read more: [http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is\_a\_platypus\_dangerous#ixzz1m8vGYNAK](http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_a_platypus_dangerous#ixzz1m8vGYNAK) ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/8 "2012-02-12T06:10:24Z")
OK, so let’s say the platypus is declawed, or a female. What then? ---
**Author:** ![Dufus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@Dufus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dufus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/9 "2012-02-12T06:13:06Z")
I went through a jungle survival school in the military. Guys were always catching critters and bringing them back to the barracks. There was a wire cage outside the barracks for them to throw their new pets for some Roman Coliseum type fun. I saw monkeys, boa constrictors, buzzard chicks and sloths in there. They all pretty much retreated to a neutral corner of the cage and shivered in terror at having been captured by human beings. There was also an alligator pit where the critters would eventually be thrown after they had failed to fight each other to the death. The alligators always provided the thrill that everyone craved. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/10 "2012-02-12T06:17:14Z")
WTF? They really had the _time_ to do all that during what is supposed to be their training? ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/11 "2012-02-12T06:21:56Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Damn you. I was sorely hoping for actual footage - not a frickin’ cartoon! But, you have to admit the CGI was amazingly accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/12 "2012-02-12T10:22:47Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > OK, so let’s say the platypus is declawed, or a female. What then? Well but what if you declawed and detoothed the cat, huh? What then? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/13 "2012-02-12T10:27:43Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Well but what if you declawed and detoothed the cat, huh? What then? OMG! Are you seriously discussing maiming an innocent cat and platypus?!?! Such cruelty makes a mockery of interspecies death matches. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/14 "2012-02-12T14:52:27Z")
> [@Dufus](#): > > I went through a jungle survival school in the military. Guys were always catching critters and bringing them back to the barracks. There was a wire cage outside the barracks for them to throw their new pets for some Roman Coliseum type fun. I saw monkeys, boa constrictors, buzzard chicks and sloths in there. They all pretty much retreated to a neutral corner of the cage and shivered in terror at having been captured by human beings. > > There was also an alligator pit where the critters would eventually be thrown after they had failed to fight each other to the death. The alligators always provided the thrill that everyone craved. This is truly one of the most disgusting, disturbing things I have ever read. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/15 "2012-02-12T15:14:49Z")
> [@Dufus](#): > > I went through a jungle survival school in the military. Guys were always catching critters and bringing them back to the barracks. There was a wire cage outside the barracks for them to throw their new pets for some Roman Coliseum type fun. I saw monkeys, boa constrictors, buzzard chicks and sloths in there. They all pretty much retreated to a neutral corner of the cage and shivered in terror at having been captured by human beings. > > There was also an alligator pit where the critters would eventually be thrown after they had failed to fight each other to the death. The alligators always provided the thrill that everyone craved. Which piece of shit military was that, that chose to turn a blind eye to this sort of cruelty. ---
**Author:** ![Jasper\_Kent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@Jasper\_Kent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasper_Kent)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/16 "2012-02-12T17:46:47Z")
I don’t know, but I do know for a fact that cats and opossums get along just fine. I’ve seen them eat out of the same bowls together on several occasions(different animals). Strange, but true. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/17 "2012-02-12T19:53:11Z")
I once saw a stray cat and a groundhog, of approximately equal size, come almost nose to nose in my yard. After a second or two, the cat ran off. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/18 "2012-02-12T19:59:53Z")
A badger and a possum went at it in a tree outside my second story window Saturday. The badger won when the possum beat a hasty retreat. The sounds they made were unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/19 "2012-02-12T20:49:59Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_8iGOgM6KPc/hqdefault.jpg "milo the cat Vs smelly platypus") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8iGOgM6KPc) It looks like a stalemate to me. Edit: On a more serious note, feral cats hunt platypus. Otara ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/20 "2012-02-12T21:22:17Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Say you had a completely empty room. What if you put a typical domestic cat, and a platypus, in it? Let’s assume that the door is closed. Well, if one was a boy and the other a girl, perhaps a litter of plakittypusses. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565.md?page=2)