How to tell if a cat is male or female

How to tell if a cat is male or female - with pictures

When we have newborn kittens or if we find a feline on the street and adopt it, it is common to ask ourselves what is your gender. In the case of puppies, the evidence is not as clear as in adults or as in other animals, for example the dog, that is why it is convenient to learn how to tell if a cat is male or female. In this oneHOWTO article we give you some guidelines that will help you reveal the sex of the cat.

How to tell if my cat is male or female – how to test it

The first step we must follow if we want know if a cat is male or female It is to turn it upside down to be able to observe the sexual organs. Ideally, the animal’s anus area is facing you so that you can examine its genitalia in detail.

In addition, we recommend that you take hygiene measures if the kitten was on the street and you still haven’t been able to clean it or, if you are not sure if it is sick or not and you will have to examine more children later. Thus, to avoid contagion both from the kitten to you or to other puppies as well as from you to the little one, it is better that you use disposable latex gloves and that before and after you use a hygienic solution such as hydroalcoholic gel, pvidone iodine solution or chlorhexidine.

If you wonder how to know if my cat is male or female You must first know what are the physical traits that differentiate them and, in addition, some traits of the personality and character of each sex so that it is easier for you to know if you live with a cat or a cat. When they are puppies of a few weeks it is more difficult to distinguish them with certainty, but it is not impossible, and after a month and a half it’s easier, since their genitals are fully developed and their behavior more defined.

How to tell if a cat is male or female - with photos - How to tell if my cat is male or female - how to test it

Physical characteristics of cats

It can be a bit difficult to differentiate the sex of our feline, especially if it is a puppy, but for this we must first look at some physical aspects. Next we are going to explain how to recognize a female cat.

Thus, physical characteristics that differentiate a cat of a cat are based on the appearance of its genitals. In fact, recognizing a female is easier because her anatomy is simpler, she only has anus and vulva:

  • Year: located below the birth of the tail.
  • The vulva: located under the anus, at an average distance of 1cm or less, that is, they are very close together. It is easy to recognize because it is a vertical groove or streak, as seen in the image.

Obviously, in cats that are a few weeks old, the smaller external genitalia can be seen and, sometimes, they can be confused with a male due to the fact that when they are small they have not yet developed barely. But really, when they are adults it is very easy to distinguish. In addition, in the case of a sterilized cat you will not observe anything different since the external part of her genitals is not altered.

Also, one thing to keep in mind is that if your feline friend it is tricolor, that is to say, white, black and orange, whether it has a calico coat (the color white predominates) or tortoiseshell (the three colors are mixed), it has many more likely to be female. This is so by genetics, since the combination of the alleles of the genes in females makes this coat color possible, whereas in males they only occur in rare cases. In fact, it is estimated that only 1 in 10 tricolor cats are male and this is known as Klinefelter syndrome and they are usually sterile.

How to know if a cat is male or female - with photos - Physical characteristics of cats

Cat personality

We can also look at the character of the animal, especially if it is already a few months old. Thus, the cat personality it can be differentiated in some traits from the males. In general, cats are more affectionate and sociable than cats, but it is also true that there are cats that are more independent and even surly, since the character is something individual. Therefore, in general, female cats tend to seek more affection and physical contact and they always defend their family and their territory a lot, since they have survival instinct because they are mothers or have the possibility of being one.

Also, once the zeal of a cat We will notice that she is undoubtedly female because her behavior changes, we will see that she is more restless, she vocalizes and meows a lot, she seeks to leave the house and may even stop eating, because if they cannot go out and find a male or have one go to them, some have a really bad time.

Also, during this phase of the cycle they can mark territory at home by urinating and, if they are not allowed to mate or are sterilized, they are more likely to suffer removals and other problems in the ovaries. If you sterilize your cat you will avoid heat, unwanted pregnancies, that she runs away from home and may return with injuries, etc.

Physical characteristics of cats

In the case of male cats, we can also discern some physical and character traits that help us identify and differentiate them from females. The physical characteristics that differentiate cats of cats are found on their genitals, which are slightly more complex than those of females. In a male we find the following anatomy:

  • Year: This hole is at the base of the tail, exactly the same as in females. It is separated from the penis by about 3cm, less in the case of kittens.
  • Scrotum and testicles: It is a bag of skin covered with hair that contains the testicles. Therefore, two small lumps are observed, in kittens smaller than in adults. In addition, when palpated they are clearly noticeable. In neutered cats, the scrotum can also be seen.
  • Penis: If we look at the cat from behind, it is located just below the testicles and may protrude a bit between the feline’s legs as well as being covered with fur.

In the case of the smallest ones, such as the testicles and the penis, they are very small, it is likely that we will see two holes, the anus and the penile groove, and that the testicles are barely perceived. Another physical feature of males, especially if they are already adults, is that they are of larger than females.

How to tell if a cat is male or female - with photos - Physical characteristics of cats

Cats personality

As it is also good to look at the character and behavior of felines to find out their sex, then we will tell you what the male cats personality.

They are generally more independent and less social, so they can be less confident, their character is usually stronger and more marked than cats. In addition, they usually go out more to roam the territory around their home, so they also mark their territory moreeven indoors. The latter will be more noticeable in a feline that is not neutered than in one that is.

Zeal in cats

The sex life of cats it begins at a few months of age and is when they begin to experience heat; This is why it is very important that you know what heat is like in cats so that you know how to treat your pet on those days of the year.

The first thing you should know is that the zeal of cats It is different according to its breed and the animal’s own physical conditions, therefore, it is difficult to specify a frequency of heat because it will depend on each individual; There are cats that can have six jealousy a year and others that will only experience it once or twice a year.

During the heat period, cats begin to experience a predisposition of their sexual organs that are preparing to reproduce. The heat of a cat is more intense than the males since, during this period, they are looking for and calling the cats to come and mate. If the cats do not come, the cat cries, becomes more listless and emits cries similar to those of a baby, like moans. It is then that many end up leaving home to continue their search and can return home pregnant.

Zeal can last from 3 to 7 days, approximately and if the cat is not mated, she will relax and her sexual system will remain at rest until the next heat. It is a natural process in which the animal calls the male to follow the laws of nature: procreate.

How to tell if a cat is male or female - with pictures - Zeal in cats

What is better a male or female cat – which one to choose?

Many people who decide to have a domestic feline are not very clear about some aspects to choose it such as what breed they like the most or if they do not care if it is a breed or not or if they prefer have a cat or a cat. There are those who think that one sex is better than the other for our comfort, because they give less complications or require less dedication than the opposite sex and other similar beliefs.

If you ask yourself “¿what is better a male or female cat? ”, The truth is that you should know that males tend to mark the territory more, but females tend to do it even more in mating season and they can meow very loudly and insistently in this period. But, in reality, if the factor of the reproductive instinct is eliminated or markedly diminished with a castration or spaying, then this behavior in both sexes disappears completely or almost completely. Thus, in this case, the behavior of the two sexes will be exactly the same and it will be the same to live with one as with the other.

If you have thought sterilize your …