Many of us have a small fluffy animal at home, and some of us have just decided to get a pet. It’s good when you don’t care whether it’s a cat or a dog, but someone wants a kitten of a certain sex.
Why it is sometimes difficult to determine the sex of a cat
It is difficult to determine the sex of very young or newborn kittens. This can be done starting from the second week of their life.
There are several reasons to determine the sex of a fluffy baby as soon as possible:
- Choosing a name.
- Creating documents if the kitten is a purebred.
- Making a sale.
What are the signs to distinguish a cat girl from a cat boy
There are several ways to determine the sex of a kitten:
- by gender;
- by appearance;
- character and habits.
Differences by gender
Before you start finding out the sex of a kitten, you need to:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with an odourless product.
- Determine the mood of the mother cat to see if she will mind.
- Warm your hands.
After that, gently place the kitten with its tummy in the palm of your hand, lift its tail up and carefully examine the distance between the urinary opening and the anus. In female cats, this distance is about one cm, in male cats it is slightly larger and thickly covered with hair. In male cats, the anus and penis resemble a colon, while in female cats, the urethra is in the form of a slit and resembles an exclamation point.
Another way is tactile. The kitten should be gently placed on the palm of your hand with its tummy up and gently feel with two fingers where the testicles should be. In a baby boy, you will feel peas up to five mm in diameter. At the age of three months, the testicles are already clearly visible.
Determining gender by appearance
For those who are well versed in cats, it is enough to look closely at the animal’s appearance to accurately determine its sex.
External signs of a male cat:
- powerful stocky build;
- large paws;
- wide chest;
- round muzzle shape;
- wide nose.
External signs of a girl cat:
- graceful physique;
- graceful curves of the body;
- elongated muzzle shape;
- thin nose.
The distinguishing feature of a cat is its colour. As a rule, only cats are tricoloured or tortoiseshell, and only cats are completely red, but no one has cancelled the rare exceptions to the rule when a kitten with a genetic disorder is born. The presence of nipples is not a distinguishing feature; in a cat, they are more pronounced, but this is noticeable only in comparison.
Differences in habits and character
Until seven months old, kittens of both sexes have little difference in their habits and character. During their waking hours, they play and explore their surroundings. In adulthood, male cats are more laid-back and can be held without fear, while female cats try to escape. But during their heat cycle, female cats become too affectionate. Male cats always mark their territory, while female cats are more tidy. And female cats are more demanding about their food. Boys gain weight faster. Male cats look proud and aggressive, while female cats look cautious. Male kittens are more active and have better developed hunting instincts.
Folk signs about the difference between cats and cats
There are several folk signs that allow distinguishing between male and female cats:
- By voice. According to observations, it has been found that male cats have a low baritone compared to females, which are characterized by higher tones.
- By the smell of urine. Males have a stronger smell.
- By the position of the tail. If the tail is pointing upwards during a meal, the kitten is a male, and if it hangs down, it is a female kitten.
If you’re afraid of making a mistake, go to a veterinary clinic where professionals will give you a 100% correct verdict.
How old should a kitten be to determine its sex
In order to avoid mistakes in determining the sex of a small kitten, it is advisable to wait until it is two weeks old. At three months, the sex is already well defined. And at six months from the date of birth, you can easily recognise whether it is a cat or a male cat.
