Differences in Male & Female Cats

If your children are begging you for a kitten, or you want to adopt a cat for the companionship it provides, there are several factors you must first consider. One of the first things you should think about is which gender you prefer. Each gender of cat, male and female, has differing qualities. Examining these qualities will allow you to know what to expect when you bring home your new furry family member.

  1. Genital Area

    • Perhaps the largest difference between male and female cats is their genitalia. It can actually be difficult to tell whether your cat or kitten is male or female, because the male cat's prepuce and penis are faced backward instead of forward. Male cats have a fairly visible scrotum beneath the anus, whereas female cats do not. Just beneath the scrotum is the circular prepuce, and underneath the prepuce is the penis. In male cats, the anogenital distance, or distance between the anus and the genitalia, is somewhat longer than it is in female cats.

    Personality

    • Cats have personalities of all kinds, but in general male cats are seen as being more friendly and personable than female cats. This is especially true if the cat was neutered. If a male cat is neutered when it is still young, before sex hormones develop, it could retain its kitten-like personality for the rest of its life. If a female cat is spayed, however, it continues its personality maturation and does not retain any qualities of a kitten as it ages. Females are sometimes seen as laid-back, aloof and distant. They seem more independent, while males are happy to lie in your lap.

    Mating

    • If you eventually want your cat to have a litter of kittens, you will want a female. However, this can be a detriment if you aren't expecting kittens but your female becomes pregnant, which can happen before it is even 1 year old. Male cats can't get pregnant, but if they aren't neutered, they become rather aggressive and territorial when they want to mate. Cats that have not been neutered can also feel compelled to roam large distances to look for a mate, which could upset you if your cat is allowed outside. Unspayed female cats do not roam in this way, but when in heat, they do meow loudly and obnoxiously.

    Vet Bills

    • The cost of neutering a male cat will be somewhat cheaper than the cost of spaying a female one. This is because the procedure is quicker and easier to perform on a male cat. If a female cat has medical problems with its reproductive organs that require surgery, this is also likely to be more expensive. If you allow your male cat outside and it hasn't been neutered, expect it to come home with scratches, bites and other injuries. This is due to the territorial nature of a cat looking for a mate. Some of these wounds require treatment at the vet.