How do you determine if a cat is male or female it has been altered?

You can't determine a cat's sex after it's been altered (spayed or neutered) just by looking. Here's why:

* Spaying and neutering remove the external visual markers: The procedure removes the testicles in males and the ovaries and uterus in females. This means you can no longer rely on the presence of testicles or a vulva to determine sex.

* Appearance is not always reliable: Even before altering, some cats may have physical traits that can be misleading about their sex, such as the size of their nipples.

So how can you tell if a cat is male or female after altering?

The only reliable way to determine a cat's sex after altering is:

* To check the microchip: Microchips are implanted under the skin, and they contain a unique identification number linked to a registration database. This database will usually include the cat's sex.

* To ask the veterinarian or shelter: If you adopted the cat from a shelter or took it to the vet for another reason, they may have records of its sex.

* To look at the medical records: If you have the cat's medical records, they should include its sex.

It's important to note: While a veterinarian can often determine a cat's sex based on its anatomy, it's not always accurate, especially after altering.