Final answer:
When a cat consumes a rat with a mutation, no immediate genetic changes occur to the cat. Only offspring can inherit such mutations that offer a survival advantage and affect future genetic variation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetic mutations can result in a variety of outcomes for the organism affected, such as a change in fur color, increased intelligence, or a myriad of other physical and behavioral changes. However, when a predator consumes an animal with a mutation, the mutation itself is not transferred to the predator. Once the prey is digested, its DNA is broken down. Thus, if a fat cat consumes a rat with a mutation, it is highly unlikely to result in any immediate changes like enhanced agility, increased intelligence, altered coat color, or improved digestion for the cat.
Mutations can have significant implications for future generations if they offer a survival advantage and are passed on to offspring; this is how natural selection and genetic variation affect population adaptations over time. For example, a mutation causing a mouse's fur to be white might make it more adapted to snowy environments, thus improving its chances of survival and reproduction.