How to distinguish a male cat from a female cat

Owners often wonder if they're getting a male or a female kitten. How can you tell a male kitten from a female kitten? What are some clues to a kitten's gender?

How to find out the sex of a kitten

Any adult knows the difference between a male cat and a female cat. The main difference is the external genitalia. Males have testicles (testicles), while females have a vulva. However, these differences are only noticeable in adult pets, when the testicles have descended into the scrotum and become visible. While males are still young, this distinction is extremely difficult, as you'll still notice two openings under the tail. Therefore, there are other signs that can help you identify whether you're holding a male or a female cat.

The easiest time to determine a kitten's sex is when it's still very small (when its thick fur doesn't make it difficult to see). However, you must handle it very carefully to avoid harming the kitten. Handle the baby with washed, dry hands, and make sure the mother cat is comfortable with your handling.

Place the baby on its tummy in your palm and very carefully lift its tail. You need to assess the shape of the natural openings and the distance between them. This will be the main difference between a male and female cat.

So, in a male, you'll see two rounded openings, approximately a centimeter apart. Many compare this arrangement of openings to a colon. Between these "dots" is where the testicles will soon appear. Sometimes, with very careful palpation, you can detect "pea-shaped" spots at this location. Just don't press too hard, or you'll disturb the kitten. Pressing too hard can injure the kitten.

In females, the distance between the openings is very small; they practically adjoin each other. Furthermore, the lower opening will be "elongated" (it is, after all, a genital slit). Therefore, this arrangement is compared to an exclamation point, only upside down.

With age, the distance between the "dots" in males increases and becomes covered with hair. In females, however, this "covering" is not observed, and the distance between the holes becomes about a centimeter.

How to distinguish an adult cat from a male cat

Of course, if a cat is not neutered, distinguishing between the animals is easy. The external genitalia will give away males and females. The task becomes more complicated if the cat is neutered and the testicles have been removed. Therefore, to determine the sex, you need to evaluate the distance between the openings. In males, even neutered ones, this distance is large (significantly more than a centimeter), while in female cats, the anus and genital slit are located very close to each other.

There are other ways to determine the sex of a cat, but they are more of a folk method, as they do not provide a 100% guarantee.

Folk omens for determining gender

Avid cat lovers can tell you the difference between a male and a female cat without even looking under the cat's tail. Just by looking at the cat's face and picking it up, they'll be 99% sure whether they're looking at a male or a female.

• muzzleIn male cats, it's wider, while in female cats, it's elongated and narrow. The nose of male cats is also wider than that of female cats. But if you have no one to compare it to and don't have the same experience with meowing pets, the chances of making a mistake are high.
• GaitFemales are usually more graceful, moving smoothly and barely audibly. But there are also individuals who move around the house with such a clattering sound, as if a herd of elephants had just passed.
• BehaviorMale cats sleep more, while female cats want to explore everything around them, are more curious, and are less likely to be handled. Females are cleaner and are constantly grooming themselves. Furthermore, female cats will generally refuse to drink or eat from dirty bowls, while male cats are less picky.

• ColorIt's no secret that tricolor You won't meet cats (extremely rare, only with a genetic mutation, so cats with tricolor colors are sterile). Also, if you notice tortoiseshell If you see a female, you can be sure it's a female. You can be equally confident if you see a calico. However, if you see a pet with a reddish-brown coat (some call it cinnamon), you're looking at a true male. It's all about genetics. You can't argue with that.

Read also:

• Cat neutering: how it happens and what to do before and after the surgery
• How to prepare a cat for neutering