# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/21 "2012-02-12T21:29:15Z")
> [@Tibby or Not Tibby](#): > > Well, if one was a boy and the other a girl, perhaps a litter of plakittypusses. Platypussies? ---
**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, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/22 "2012-02-12T21:34:18Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Platypussies? Or, Pussplatters ---
**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, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/23 "2012-02-12T21:52:42Z")
Sylvester the Cat and Daffy Duck both had similar voices. Coincidence? I think not. Mel Blanc was the offspring of a domestic cat and a duck billed platypus. ---
**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, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/24 "2012-02-12T23:11:49Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > OMG! Are you seriously discussing maiming an innocent cat and platypus?!?! Such cruelty makes a mockery of interspecies death matches. But Sir, _he_ started it. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/25 "2012-02-13T06:27:40Z")
> [@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. If I understand it correctly, the two critters will become entangled, but only when we open the door to observe them. ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/26 "2012-02-13T13:14:36Z")
> [@Tibby or Not Tibby](#): > > Or, Pussplatters I vote for platacats Sounds like a 50s style do-wop group 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/27 "2012-02-13T14:02:40Z")
> [@Dufus](#): > > I saw monkeys, boa constrictors, buzzard chicks and sloths in there. All the (justified) outrage at animal cruelty aside, I have to wonder at what sort of retards capture a sloth for exciting animal combat. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/28 "2012-02-13T14:35:43Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > 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. What the hell was a badger doing in New Jersey, and up a tree? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/29 "2012-02-13T15:58:13Z")
The platypus would be too large to be prey, so the cat will be wary. He will watch the platypus carefully. If the platypus comes near, the cat will hiss as a warning, and if it gets closer, he will scratch the platypus, then run. If there’s a way to get up high, he will. He will see no reason to engage in a fight. The platypus would probably go looking for a place to hide and ignore the cat unless threatened. So, ultimately, not much will happen, especially if the cat can leap onto a chair. ---
**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 13, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/30 "2012-02-13T17:21:00Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > What the hell was a badger doing in New Jersey, and up a tree? In Jersey? Probably extortion – badgering the critter, with the badger knowing full well that if the possum reported it to the police, the police would not do anything (I challenge you to provide even one cite of New Jersey police acting on behalf of a possum’s complaint), and with the possum fearing that if it did not pay-up, then the badger would bury it in The Pine Barrens. It’s a dog-eat-dog world. ---
**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 13, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/31 "2012-02-13T18:42:10Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > In Jersey? Probably extortion – badgering the critter, with the badger knowing full well that if the possum reported it to the police, the police would not do anything (I challenge you to provide even one cite of New Jersey police acting on behalf of a possum’s complaint), and with the possum fearing that if it did not pay-up, then the badger would bury it in The Pine Barrens. It’s a dog-eat-dog world. Damn right. Those buffaloes in Buffalo are no better. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/32 "2012-02-13T19:08:31Z")
In the words of Sterling Archer, it would be Meowschiwtz. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/33 "2012-02-13T19:28:53Z")
You’re all wrong. It would be a catypus. A platypussy is . . . something else. An adult platypus is probably too big for a cat to see as prey. Which is a good thing for them, considering the platypus is armed with AGONY-CAUSING VENOM. Too big to torture for fun, either, so you’re not likely to get a fight. So you’d probably get the standard feline behavior of ‘briefly pester out of curiosity, then pointedly ignore.’ The platypus would probably feel a general malaise due to the lack of water, and as most depressed creatures do, spend too much time online and eat a lot of Taco Bell. – If you have to ask, you don’t want to know. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/34 "2012-02-13T21:33:33Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > What the hell was a badger doing in New Jersey, and up a tree? Looking for mushrooms? Avoiding snakes? ---
**Author:** ![KneeSid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dec6dc/32.png) [@KneeSid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneeSid)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/35 "2012-02-13T22:07:15Z")
Good grief everyone knows badgers live in Wisconsin. For the cat+platypus Male cat + female platypus = catypus Male platypus + female cat = platycat Just like with ligers and tiglons ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/36 "2012-02-13T23:06:55Z")
Just how big is an adult platypus, anyhow? I’m still gobsmacked by my recent realization that I’ve never actually seen a live platypus, 'cause they’re just not kept by many zoos. In my head, they’re slightly larger than Beanie Babies, but that isn’t right, is it? Are they larger than a housecat? Smaller than a pug? ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/37 "2012-02-13T23:33:43Z")
Wikipedia says .7 to 2.4 kilos, and 50-40cm. (1.5-5.3 lbs, and 20-17 inches) So, about half the size of a cat, and ironically enough, almost exactly half the size I thought they were. Still bigger than an adult rat, though. And it’s a very rare (and big) cat that will take on a full-grown rat. – I was absolutely terrified of platypuses when I was a child. Not because they freaked me out, I was scared they’d sneak into my room and STAB ME with their VENOMOUS SPUR!! Presumably after hopping a quick charter flight from Australia to New England. Because they do that. I was a weird kid. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/38 "2012-02-13T23:59:04Z")
A possible datapoint, from an Australian with cats. While the boys are strictly indoor cats, and there are no platypi around here, there’s a fair amount of wildlife that can come close enough to read their reactions: \*Birds, lizards, mice and suchlike - they definitely go into hunter mode, low and aggressive \*Dogs, cats - aggressive and angry. They want to fight, and chase the competition away \*Foxes - low, still, watchful, fearful - they get as small as they can, and watch until this threat goes away \*[Possums](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possum), wallabies - curious, upright, neither fearful nor aggressive I’ve a few theories, but my best guess is that they don’t see those last as a threat, or as prey, but rather as something odd. Whether it’s that they can tell that they are not competition for prey, and they’re too big to hunt, or if they simply don’t have them in their genetic memory, I’m not sure. I lean toward the former. I suspect that if I let them out to say hello to the possum, the possum would _not_ appreciate their presence. I believe the response would be the same with platypussies. ---
**Author:** ![bartleby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bartleby/32/10491_2.png) [@bartleby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bartleby)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/39 "2012-02-14T13:57:53Z")
I would just like to point this out: > **[Bear v. Shark](https://books.google.com/books/about/Bear_v_shark.html?id=49Fzqd3XQWQC)** > > So it's kind of like a parlor game, then?... The question is apparently of Ancient Eastern extraction.... It seems to be a gut thing. The answer just feels right and then you come up with reasons.... Given a relatively level playing field -- i.e.,... 'nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565/40 "2012-02-14T14:11:44Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > Wikipedia says .7 to 2.4 kilos, and 50-40cm. (1.5-5.3 lbs, and 20-17 inches) So, about half the size of a cat, and ironically enough, almost exactly half the size I thought they were. Og help me, my brain processes that as “about the size of a human preemie, give or take.” :smack: Thanks! That actually helps. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-you-put-a-platypus-and-a-cat-in-a-room-together/612565.md?page=1) [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=3)