If you’re contemplating adopting a cat, it’s possible you’ll be questioning in regards to the variations between genders (and which combo makes for one of the best pairing in a family). There are some apparent variations between female and male cats, particularly in the event that they haven’t been spayed or neutered. These variations are primarily associated to sure bodily attributes.
In terms of cats who’ve been spayed and neutered, these variations are tougher to identify and, in lots of circumstances, could also be nearly non-existent. The reality is that there are only a few generalizations that maintain true for all cats of every gender, so it’s all the time finest to get to know the cat you might be pondering of adopting and choose the cat finest suited to your persona and way of life.
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Learn on to study extra in regards to the variations between female and male cats.
The variations between female and male cats
The largest variations between female and male cats are bodily. To state the plain, male cats have a penis, whereas feminine cats have a vagina. Bodily, males are typically bigger and heavier, whereas females are sometimes extra petite. Males who aren’t neutered are likely to have bigger heads with large, full cheeks.
Behaviorally, male cats are reported to be extra territorial and may present extra aggression if they aren’t neutered. Nevertheless, many different variables affect the conduct of cats, so it’s not doable to distinguish between female and male cats based mostly on their behaviors alone. ‘
Genitalia
Exterior genitalia is the obvious option to distinguish female and male cats. Intact males may have testicles which can be simply seen underneath their tails. All male cats even have a penis that’s seen externally, whereas feminine cats have a vagina. The space between the anus and penis in male cats is bigger than the gap between the anus and vulva in feminine cats. The general form of their exterior genitalia can also be totally different, with males having a tubular-shaped penis that may be extruded by urgent gently on the encompassing pores and skin.
Feminine cats who’ve had kittens are likely to have enlarged mammary glands, with all of the nipples on their stomach changing into swollen and extra seen, particularly if they’re actively lactating.
Face and physique form
Gender can even have an effect on a cat’s general look. Intact male cats may have massive, rounded heads with distinguished jowls and bigger general our bodies. Chubby cheeks develop after puberty and can linger in male cats who’re neutered after reaching sexual maturity. Cats who’re neutered early in life won’t develop these massive cheeks, nonetheless.
Colour variations
Some coat colours are linked to gender. Orange coat coloration, calico, and tortoiseshell markings are linked to the X chromosome. Since males solely inherit one X chromosome, if they’ve one copy of the gene for orange coat coloration on their X chromosome, they are going to be orange. Since females have two X chromosomes, they should inherit two copies of this gene with the intention to be orange, and that is why there are extra male orange cats than females. When feminine cats inherit just one copy of this gene, their coat shall be some variation of tortoiseshell or calico. Practically all tortoiseshell and calico cats are feminine since this requires two copies of the X chromosome.
Are feminine cats smaller than male cats?
Female and male cats who’re intact are likely to have extra bodily variations of their appearances. When cats are spayed and neutered earlier than puberty, these variations are typically minimal and even non-existent.
As a basic rule, male cats are typically bigger and heavier than feminine cats. Breed and general well being additionally play a giant position of their measurement, although. You’ll be able to anticipate the typical feminine Maine Coon to be a lot bigger than a male Siamese, for instance. Equally, cats who’ve entry to good preventative well being care and sufficient diet will develop a lot bigger than stray cats who’re getting by on no matter they will scavenge.
What are the behavioral variations between female and male cats?
Probably the most constant behavioral variations between female and male cats are influenced by their hormones and their drive to breed. Subsequently, cats who’re intact and reside open air in colonies with different cats are likely to have essentially the most dramatic conduct variations between the genders. For cats who’re spayed and neutered and reside indoors, a lot of the drive for these reproductive behaviors disappears, limiting the affect of gender on their conduct.
Moreover, understand that conduct and temperament are influenced by so many different components except for gender and are extremely particular to every particular person cat.
Territorial conduct
Intact male cats are recognized to be extra territorial, with a bent to roam and defend their territory. This results in extra fights between intact male cats and accidents from battle wounds in addition to trauma from roaming open air, together with hit-by-car accidents. Intact male cats are additionally extra more likely to spray urine as a means of marking their territory. Neutering your cat and protecting them indoors will scale back all of those behaviors considerably.
Playfulness
There are not any documented gender variations in playfulness between female and male cats. This can be a trait that’s most affected by a person cat’s conduct, in addition to how a lot they had been socialized as kittens, and whether or not they have realized to play within the methods we’re accustomed to.
Affection towards caregivers
That is additionally not a gender-based trait however is very influenced by socialization and the age at which cats work together with people. Cats who’re dealt with by people recurrently in early kittenhood opens in new tab are most certainly to point out affection in the direction of people and interact in behaviors resembling following them round, snuggling on the sofa, and greeting their favourite people on the door.
Gender solely performs a job in that intact male cats are likely to have extra testosterone than different cats, which might make them behave extra aggressively in the direction of people in addition to different cats.
Mating and breeding conduct
Mating and breeding behaviors are extremely influenced by intercourse hormones. Each female and male cats have a robust drive to breed. For intact males, this leads them to need to roam and seek for mates, so they are going to typically attempt to sneak out of the home to take action.
For intact feminine cats, their warmth cycles might be very intense. That is when they’re receptive to mating, main them to be very vocal, needy, and in addition intent on sneaking out of the home to seek for a mate. Spaying and neutering eliminates the majority of those behaviors, particularly whether it is achieved earlier in life earlier than cats attain sexual maturity.
Aggression
Intact male cats usually tend to be aggressive of their try to defend their territory. Intact male cats are likely to battle with each other and a few research have reported intact male cats present extra aggression in the direction of folks as nicely.
Spraying
Urine spraying is usually achieved by intact male cats as a option to mark their territory. Nevertheless, each female and male cats can spray urine. Spraying indoors by spayed or neutered cats is commonly an indication of behavioral stress, resembling competitors between cats, anxiousness, or medical issues.
Do feminine and male cats get alongside?
No matter gender, cats who develop up collectively usually tend to bond than cats launched as adults. That doesn’t imply that grownup cats can’t grow to be pals, nonetheless. When introducing grownup cats, those that have been spayed or neutered are likely to get alongside a lot better than cats who’re nonetheless intact. Hormones drive a variety of aggressive and undesirable behaviors.
If you happen to’re contemplating including one other cat to the combo, simply you’ll want to make a correct introduction.
Are male or feminine cats extra affectionate?
There is no such thing as a option to reply this query definitively. It has extra to do with the way you socialize your cat, in addition to their particular person persona.
Are male or feminine cats higher hunters?
Within the wild, feminine cats are tasked with trying to find their litter, so evolution might have had some paret in making them good mousers. However any cat can hunt, no matter gender — particularly now that cats are largely domesticated.
Are male cats friendlier than feminine cats?
Once more, this has extra to do with surroundings or particular person persona. Whereas some cat dad and mom have made generalizations about cats’ demeanors, nevertheless it actually comes right down to your particular cat.
References
Barry, Kimberly J, et al. “Gender variations within the social conduct of the neutered indoor-only home catopens in new tab.” Utilized Animal Habits Science, vol. 64, no. 3, July 1999, pp. 193-211.
Bamberger, Michelle, et al. “Signalment components, comorbidity, and tendencies in conduct diagnoses in cats: 736 circumstances (1991–2001)opens in new tab.” J Am Vet Med Assoc, vol. 229, no. 10, November 2006, pp. 1602-1606.
Bradshaw, John. “Sociality in cats: A comparative evaluateopens in new tab.” Journal of Veterinary Habits, vol. 11, 2016, pp. 113-124.
Koyasu, Hikari, et al. “Sociality of Cats towards People Can Be Influenced by Hormonal and Socio-Environmental Components: Pilot Researchopens in new tab.” Animals, vol. 13, no. 1, 30 December 2022, pp. 146.
Merenda, Monica Estella Zambon, et al. “Development Curve and Vitality Consumption in Male and Feminine Catsopens in new tab” Subjects in Companion Animal Medication, vol. 44, 2021.
Pitakarnnop, T, et al. “Feline (Felis catus) Cranium and Pelvic Morphology and Morphometry: Gender-Associated Distinction?opens in new tab” Anatomy, Histology, Embryology, vol. 46, no. 3, June 2017, pp. 294-303.
