Possible Scenarios:
* Confusion and Amusement: People would likely be very confused and amused. It might become a viral sensation, with videos of "barking cats" flooding the internet.
* Evolutionary Change: Maybe it's a sign of a new evolutionary adaptation in cats. Perhaps they are evolving to communicate more effectively with humans or other animals.
* Medical Anomaly: It could be a medical condition, perhaps a neurological issue affecting their vocalizations.
* Misidentification: Maybe we're simply misinterpreting the sound. It could be a new type of cat vocalization we haven't identified before.
Impact:
* Cat Communication: Our understanding of feline communication would be completely altered. We might learn new things about cats and their vocalizations.
* Dog-Cat Relationships: The relationship between cats and dogs could become more complex, perhaps even more competitive.
* Animal Communication: It might spark renewed research into animal communication and how different species interact.
Ultimately, it's a fun thought experiment! It's impossible to say for sure what would happen if cats barked, but it would definitely change the way we view these furry companions.