caught-cot merger

The Caught-Cot merger is currently happening in the United States. The Caught-Cot merger usually happens when people are born in the Western U.S. and most likely learn the word Caught. Caught in the western U.S. sounds like cot. FYI, Cot is a sheet of a blanket that goes over the pillow. This could possibly change the U.S. if more people are born in the Western U.S. and move east, marry a woman, and teach their children how to say caught then most likely they would say /cot/ instead of learning it differently.

Mrs. Lason: Johnny, please say the word caught.
Johnny: Caught?

Mrs. Lason: Yes Johnny.
Johnny: OK. /cot/

The Caught-Cot Merger could not be explained but if you were born in the Western U.S., You would say /cot/.