What genetic factors allow lions and tigers to hybridize?

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Lions and tigers can hybridise because they share close genetic compatibility
Lions and tigers can hybridise because they are classified in the same genus, Panthera, which makes them more closely related than humans are to chimpanzees. Their hybridisation is further supported by the fact that most cats have the same total chromosome number of 38, which helps make cross-breeding genetically feasible.
Both animals belong to the same Panthera genus
Lions and tigers are both grouped under the genus Panthera. That shared classification indicates they are closely related genetically, compared with how humans relate to chimpanzees, and this close relationship is part of why hybridisation can occur.
Most cats share a total chromosome count of 38
Hybridisation between lions and tigers is also described as being enabled by a shared chromosome pattern common to most cats. Most cats have 38 chromosomes in total, and that similarity in chromosome number is presented as a factor that facilitates hybridisation.
Hybrid offspring are possible despite different species labels
Even though lions and tigers are described as different species, they can still produce hybrids. The genetic and classification overlap—same genus Panthera and similar chromosome counts—explains how cross-species breeding can be biologically possible in captivity.
The discussion frames hybridisation as genetically feasible for Panthera cats
The overall genetic framing ties together genus-level relatedness and chromosome-number compatibility. In this context, lions and tigers are treated as sufficiently compatible at the genetic level for hybridisation, even while they remain distinct species.

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What genetic factors allow lions and tigers to hybridize?

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