You decided you want to adopt a cat. Now, will it be a male or a female?
While both genders can make affectionate and rewarding pets, there are some distinct characteristics you should pay attention to.
Understanding these differences between males and females is crucial when providing the appropriate care and environment for your feline companion. Each animal’s personality, health needs, and the dynamics of your home life should play a fundamental role in your decision-making process.
Male Cat vs Female Cat Differences
First of all, it’s essential to consider their distinct physical characteristics, hormonal influences, and reproductive behaviors. Genetics often influence these differences and can affect various aspects of their health and behavior.
Physical Differences
Male cats are generally larger compared to female cats. Their facial features are more pronounced, their head is larger and broader. Typically, their body is longer, taller, and more muscular.
The physical differences between their reproductive organs are clear. Males have testicles and a penis located closer to the anus and tail. Females have a vulva, located lower, near the abdomen. In kittens, the reproductive organs aren’t well developed, so it’s hard to say if a kitten is a male or a female.
Only in females, gender influences coat colors. This is a genetic trait. Tricolor cats, also called Calico cats, come in white, yellow, tabby yellow, and black. Calico cats can only be females.
Hormonal Influences and Reproductive Behaviors
Hormones play a significant role in the behavioral aspects of male and female cats.
Testosterone in males will prompt unwanted behaviors like territorial marking. This means the male cat sprays urine on any surface, to mark its surroundings.
With males in heat, this behavior will be almost permanent and the smell, almost intolerable. Spraying is their instinctual way of signaling availability to females and establishing dominance.
They will become restless, and aggressive, will try to escape if they live indoors, and even leave home for a few days if they live both indoors and outdoors.
When outside, they often stray in search of females to mate with, which can lead to fights over territory and mating rights. Unfortunately, this straying around makes them more vulnerable to potentially lethal diseases, like feline panleukopenia or feline peritonitis.
Females, on the other hand, while in heat, will vocalize excessively, and become more affectionate during this entire period, to attract males. They are also territorial creatures and will roam around their turf in mating season, and might also contract potentially fatal diseases.
Spaying and neutering will mitigate all hormone-driven behaviors and prevent unwanted pregnancies and uterine infections in females.
Personality and Behavioral Traits
The personality of a male cat will be different from that of a female cat, affecting their temper and social interactions.
Temperament
Male cats, especially unneutered ones, tend to exhibit a more territorial demeanor and are more assertive. This can lead to more rambunctious and aggressive behaviors. When not in heat, they tend to be more playful than female cats.
In contrast, females are more affectionate but may also be perceived as more independent. They won’t fight for territory as much as males.
This is a trait inherited from their wild relatives, like cougars and lions. Female wildcats will only fight for territory if they have cubs.
Social Interaction
Regarding social behavior, female cats are quieter than males and have more reserved personalities. They don’t like to engage in cat meetings, unless when it comes to lunchtime.
Males, on the other hand, may strive for dominance and could potentially be more affectionate in their quest for attention.
But, when it comes to cats as home companions, both males and females can form strong, lifelong bonds with their owners.
Territorial and Marking Habits
The territory is a cat’s haven, a place where they feel secure. Cats are very fond of their safe space and engage in various behaviors to let other individuals know it belongs to them. To understand the dynamics of male and female cats, the way they mark their surroundings is quite telling of their territorial instincts.
Besides tomcats’ spraying, there are other ways in which a cat, male or female, will olfactory mark its turf.
All domestic felines have more than one scent gland: on their cheeks, paws, and flanks. The scent glands deposit their personal “perfume”, which is recognized by other cats.
When a cat rubs its head against objects, humans, or other cats, it says “this is mine”. This is actually a sign of affection. It is a gesture that resembles cuddling. Cats do that to reinforce the bond they have with that particular object or person.
The same goes for flank rubbing against things – the moment the cat marks your favorite trousers or the favorite corner of the sofa.
Another way cats mark their territory is “biscuit-making” with their paws. They have interdigital glands located between the toes.
Females prefer using their heads and paws for scent marking.
Health and Longevity Concerns
When considering the health and longevity of cats, several factors come into play, including genetics and care. Specific health issues and life expectancies tend to differ between male and female cats.
Male cats are more commonly affected by urinary tract issues, such as urethral obstructions. This condition can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Territorial behaviors in males, like marking with urine, can sometimes correlate with UTCs.
Both neutered and intact males can suffer from this condition. Intact males might also suffer from feline tail gland hyperplasia and may develop testicular cancer.
Female unspayed cats are at risk for serious reproductive diseases. Pyometra, a serious uterine infection, and cancers, including ovarian and mammary cancer. All can be avoided by spaying.
In some cases, females with certain health conditions will also mark their surroundings using urine.
Both males and females can develop diseases if their diet doesn’t include certain amino acids. Urinary disorders appear if their diet doesn’t include methionine. Also, cats need taurine, to maintain healthy hearts and eyes.
Indoor cats’ lifespan typically ranges from 13 to 17 years. Regarding gender, an indoor cat is protected from exposure to trauma, parasites, and infectious diseases.
Practical Considerations for Cat Owners
When choosing a cat as your companion, you must consider the practical aspects of care and behavior. You must be aware of the distinct needs of male and female cats to ensure a happy home for your feline friend.
Caring for Your Cat
Grooming is important to both genders, especially in cats that have long or semi-long coats, to maintain the good health of the fur and skin. Also, while grooming your cat, you will be able to inspect its body and skin and eventually discover possible lesions or other health issues.
Their diet has to be tailored to their activity level and to their sexual status. Intact males and females need a diet rich in high-quality protein. Neutered individuals need methionine and a smaller amount of protein. This will also prevent obesity and other health problems.
How to Train Your Cat and Manage Its Behavior
As kittens, both male and female cats are easy to train to use a litter box. If you adopt an adult cat, it’ll need less time to learn where its toilet is located.
When you choose a name for your cat, try calling it when it’s feeding time. Either it’s a male or female, it will learn its name much faster and associate it with something pleasant.
Introducing a New Cat
When you introduce a new cat into a household with existing pets, patience is required. Sometimes, the first impression is that war’s gonna start any second now.
Introducing new pets or changing the environment can be more challenging with female cats, who may be more reluctant. So, it’s better to avoid taking the cat out of its safe space.
They all need time to get to know each other and get used to one another. The introduction must be made carefully and gradually. The newcomer must be provided with a safe place where it can hide from the other animals around it.
It is commonly observed that pairing is easier if both cats are neutered, regardless of gender. A male cat versus a male or female cat is an easy pairing. Sometimes, pairing two females might be difficult, because of their territorial disputes.
Early socialization and genetics can also influence a cat’s compatibility with other animals.
