Male vs Feminine Cats’ Appearances, Personalities, and Behaviors

Women or boys? Queens or toms? Some cat lovers desire one over the opposite, believing sure character traits are linked to organic intercourse. Possibly you’ve heard that male cats are extra loving and feminine cats are extra unbiased—or that male cats usually tend to pee round the home.

So what’s reality and what’s fiction? On this information, we’ll cowl the variations in look and character between female and male cats.

Male Cats vs. Feminine Cats: Organic Variations

Intact male cats usually develop pronounced cheeks known as tomcat jowls. Tony Campbell / Shutterstock.com

Bodily variations between the 2 are current at delivery, reminiscent of genitalia. It may be troublesome to inform the organic intercourse of a kitten when they’re first born however there are some telltale indicators to search for.

Feminine kittens’ genitals are very near the anus. The vulva appears to be like like a vertical line proper under the anus, kind of like an upside-down exclamation level (¡). In male kittens, there may be extra space between the anus and the genitals. This additional area is for the testicles to additional develop. The penis appears to be like like one other small circle under the anus, so male genitals look a bit like a colon (:).

These variations stay by means of maturity, however an grownup male cat’s testicles at the moment are a lot bigger. Nonetheless, if a male cat is neutered, it may be troublesome to inform if he’s a male or feminine. The secret is to have a look at the form and placement of the opening beneath the anus.

Alison Gerken, DVM, a veterinarian with the San Francisco SPCA Conduct Service explains, “Male cats have a larger distance between the anus and the genitals (about 1 inch) in comparison with females, that are about one-half inch.”

Another bodily variations between woman and boy cats embrace:

• Dimension: When in comparison with feminine cats, males are usually bigger in measurement, particularly in the event that they attain maturity earlier than neutering. This measurement distinction is extra pronounced in some breeds, such because the Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, and Ragdoll.
• Coat: Intact male cats would possibly develop an extended, extra lush coat than feminine cats. That is significantly noticeable in some breeds through which males have a thick ruff (mane) across the neck.
• Coloration: Some colour patterns are sex-linked, so feminine cats are available in some colours that male cats not often do. The calico and tortoiseshell patterns are solely seen in feminine cats. Calico is a patched tricolor sample in orange, black, and white (or the dilute variations of those colours: cream, grey, and white). Tortoiseshell is a mottled sample of swirled colour in orange and black or the dilute cream and grey). Additionally as a consequence of chromosomal patterns, 80% of orange cats are male.
• Face and head: Male cats that haven’t been neutered usually have larger heads and thicker skulls than feminine cats. In addition they develop thicker whisker pads and have very massive, pronounced cheeks known as tomcat jowls.
• Life span: Feminine cats usually have longer life spans than male cats. The place females stay a mean of 15 years, unneutered male cats have a mean life span of 13 years. Nonetheless, neutered male cats stay 62% longer than intact males.

Some bodily variations between female and male cats are extra noticeable when the cats are intact (not spayed or neutered). It’s because spaying or neutering disrupts or adjustments some facets of organic improvement, particularly within the case of early spaying and neutering.

“Male cats who’re neutered earlier than reaching sexual maturity—round 5 to 7 months of age—don’t develop hormone-related bodily adjustments,” Dr. Gerken stated. “These cats have smaller heads and fewer muscular our bodies. They don’t develop penile barbs they usually have less-active tail scent glands—in different phrases, they aren’t as smelly!”

Male Cats vs. Feminine Cats: Temperament, Persona and Conduct

Genetics and youth experiences affect cats’ personalities and habits greater than their intercourse. Margarett24 / Shutterstock.com

Dr. Gerken factors out that habits and character are influenced by many issues, together with genetics, atmosphere, youth experiences, vitamin, and sickness. Female and male cats have some normal behavioral variations, however these would possibly solely be obvious in cats that aren’t spayed or neutered.

Among the principal variations between feminine cats and male cats embrace:

1. Tendency to Roam

Intact male cats usually tend to roam additional outdoor as a result of their hormones drive them to discover a mate. Some intact male cats wander far distances and disappear for days earlier than returning house. Spayed or not, feminine cats are a lot much less more likely to roam as far, though they might attempt to discover a mate after they’re in warmth (estrus). Neutering a male cat can considerably cut back roaming habits.

2. Social Conduct

Pleasant interactions between cats are referred to as affiliative habits and are supposed to develop or preserve bonds. Examples embrace cats grooming one another, rubbing towards each other, or touching noses.

“Earlier analysis demonstrated that whereas each men and women interact in affiliative habits with different cats, feminine outside cats exhibited affiliative habits extra regularly than males,” Dr. Gerken stated. “Nonetheless, the analysis didn’t discover the intercourse of the cat to be an element that influences the frequency of affiliative habits demonstrated between indoor cats.” In feral cat colonies, teams of females usually stay collectively, which can have influenced the frequency of those behaviors in these teams.

3. Feline Aggression

Aggression is seen in each female and male cats for a lot of causes. Nonetheless, Dr. Gerken factors out that unneutered male cats is perhaps extra more likely to exhibit aggression towards different males as they compete for territory or mating alternatives. In some instances, spaying or neutering the cat can lower aggression.

4. Warmth Cycle Behaviors

Feminine cats that aren’t spayed usually show very particular behavioral adjustments throughout a warmth cycle. Feminine cats in warmth are more likely to cuddle and be extra affectionate, purr and vocalize excessively, appear stressed, roll round on the ground, and groom excessively. Spaying feminine cats eliminates behaviors related to going into warmth.

5. Urine Spraying and Marking

You is perhaps stunned to study that intact cats of both intercourse can routinely urine spray. This regular cat habits is a type of communication, marking territory and attracting mates. Urine spraying may be lowered or eradicated by spaying or neutering the cat.

Nonetheless, even some spayed and neutered cats interact in urine marking. Analysis has proven that about 10% of neutered male cats and 5% of spayed feminine cats proceed to spray into maturity, no matter what age they have been spayed or neutered.

“That is seemingly as a result of different motivations, other than the territorial and sexual connotations, exist for urine spraying,” Dr. Gerken stated. Cats would possibly spray in response to emphasize, shifting to a brand new house, adjustments of their routine, an insufficient litter field setup, or due to a bodily illness.

6. Coloration-Linked Persona Traits

Some folks suppose tortoiseshell cats exhibit spicy and sassy attitudes, one thing that even has its personal title: tortitude. Many cat lovers consider calico cats are simply as feisty and that orange cats are the friendliest. However are these perceptions actual or only a fantasy?

Analysis on this space is proscribed. One pet proprietor examine discovered that calico and tortoiseshell cats have been extra more likely to present behaviors like hissing, chasing, biting, swatting, or scratching when interacting with people.

Nonetheless, Dr. Gerken recommends taking these findings with a grain of salt since they have been primarily based on the subjective opinions of the cats’ homeowners. “Preconceptions about color-linked character traits could have precipitated the homeowners to note and report these traits of their cats,” Dr. Gerken stated. “Every cat is a person with their very own distinctive character no matter coat colour.”