Are you expecting a new addition to your home in the form of a small feline? This is wonderful! Who would you like to see in the house more - a kitty or a cat? In order not to make a mistake when choosing, you will need to know how determine the gender of the kitten. When these young animals are more than one and a half months old, you can already easily distinguish a female from a male by external signs: the characteristic features of the muzzle and the difference in the genitals will appear. The difference is noticeable both in the character traits and in the certain behavior of the fluffy beauties.
If the owner definitely wants a cat and has a lovely female name at the ready, then he needs to quickly determine the gender of the newborn kitten. And why wait weeks if you can use a proven method and look under the kitten’s tail?
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Why is gender determination necessary?
You need to know the sex of a kitten for the following reasons:
- The pet must be given a nickname. It is not advisable to change it in adulthood, since the cat already knows its name and responds to it.
- You need to determine in advance whether your pet will need to be spayed or neutered in the future.
- The animal has its own behavioral characteristics depending on its gender. Owners need to select a pet based on this fact. For example, cats mark their territory more often, which causes an unpleasant smell in the apartment. Unspayed females periodically go into heat. Their behavior changes, they begin to demand a cat. When babies are born, the cat becomes aggressive.
- If the cubs are purebred, then they can be sold. Boys are more expensive than girls in Maine Coons and other types of cats.
How to distinguish a cat from a cat in adolescence or adulthood: subtle signs
In adolescents or adults, distinctive features are easier to find because their external characteristics are fully formed. It is not possible to find out gender based on subtle characteristics with 100% certainty. But they will help confirm the guess.
Size and weight
From the age of six months, girls and boys begin to differ from each other in body shape and size. So, kitties become smaller than seals, their body remains more fragile and graceful. In teenage boys, the body becomes more massive and muscle mass develops better.
In addition, girls have rounded hips and a tummy with a more pronounced step crease. Boys have a narrow pelvis, a tucked stomach, and more muscular shoulder blades.
Girls weigh less than boys. But here we must not forget about the breed of the pet. You cannot compare a Maine Coon and a British representative. Comparisons are made only within the same cat family and breed.
Muzzle
How to determine the sex of a cat by the shape of its face? If you look closely at the pet, you will notice that the female’s muzzle is narrow and slightly elongated. In contrast to the large skull of the male, her head looks graceful.
The features of the face also indicate gender. The male's nose is wider, with a large lobe. The female has an elusive, but externally noticeable elegance in all her features.
Habits
Experienced owners know how to determine the sex of a cat simply by observing its behavior. The grown male begins to reclaim his territory, leaving marks everywhere. This occurs at the age of 6-7 months. Around this time, females begin their first estrus. She caresses, arching her back and lifting the back of her body up.
Cats love to relax, so they sleep most of the time. Cats, on the contrary, try to be in the center of events happening in the house. Girls are more clean, but boys are more relaxed about body cleanliness and will not constantly lick themselves.
Often cats are ardent eaters, that is, adherents of dense and frequent meals. Cats are not as fond of eating and begging, although there are exceptions.
Voice
There is a way to tell if it is a cat or a female cat by the way they meow. Experienced owners say that the vocal characteristics of different representatives differ in tone.
So, males have a lower voice. Females, on the contrary, are the owners of a high tone - but only if they do not call the cat during heat. Then any cat will envy their bass rumbles.
Rules for communicating with kittens when determining sex
Kittens must be treated with care so as not to cause harm. Before determining gender, you need to consider some nuances:
- The kitten should not be separated from its mother for a long time. Its fur can absorb the smell of a person, then the cat will not accept the cub back.
- Before picking up an animal, you must wash them thoroughly without soap or with a non-scented hygiene product.
- The kitten's body is not yet strong; it must be handled with care so as not to damage the bones or internal organs.
- Do not pull or tug on the tail.
- It is not recommended to pick up a kitten while it is suckling.
- If the mother does not like her baby being touched, it is advisable to postpone the examination until she is not around.
How to prepare for a kitten exam
Before inspection you must:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with unscented soap.
- Be sure to make sure your hands are warm.
- Prepare the inspection site: it should be comfortable and well lit.
- Ensure a calm environment in the room where the inspection will be carried out.
What you can do:
- If a kitten was born in your home, you need to make sure that the mother cat calmly allows access to the kittens.
- Before the examination, ensure the kitten is calm, treat it gently, hold it in both palms, gently stroke it, calm the baby enough so that it is not afraid and does not tuck its tail to its stomach. Ideally, choose a moment when the kitten is well-fed and sleepy.
- Conduct an inspection: turn the kitten belly up, holding it in the palm of your hand and gently holding its hind legs and tail with your fingers.
What not to do:
- You should not take a baby away from a cat if she is nervous, angry, or feeding kittens.
- Carry out the inspection roughly, using force, if the kitten resists: press, pull by the paws or tail, hold by the fold of skin in the area of the withers (by the scruff of the neck).
- Inspect without washing off the skin for extraneous artificial odors that irritate cats (soap, detergent, perfume).
- Inspect with cold hands. We remind you: the body temperature of cats is more than 2 degrees higher than that of humans. The normal human temperature of cool fingertips is perceived by a small kitten as an icy hot water bottle, which can cause the entire examination to go down the drain. If necessary, use a clean towel heated with an iron or a warm rubber heating pad wrapped in a towel or diaper, and try to warm your hands during the examination.
Suitable age for gender identification
- It is easier to visually determine the sex of small kittens under the age of seven days. They have not yet had time to become pubescent and the organs are clearly visible. This is especially true for long-haired purebred animals with a thick undercoat. For example, the Scottish Fold.
- At the age of a week, it is easy to make a mistake with the gender. However, it is even more difficult to decide on affiliation in two to three weeks. The kitten is completely covered with hair, which will block the view of the genitals. This does not apply to hairless breeds. For example, the sphinx.
- At two or three months it is already easier to determine the sex. The genitals are fully formed and clearly visible. It is possible to accurately distinguish females from males at the age of six months, even in long-haired breeds (for example, the British). At this age, puberty begins: the reproductive organs are clearly visible, cats mark their territory, and cats begin to go into heat.
How to properly pick up a kitten?
To determine the gender of a kitten, it must be carefully taken from its mother. It is better not to do this while feeding. Be sure to wash your hands first so that there is no smell that could disturb the mother cat. Use soap with a neutral scent. The kitten must be examined quickly and immediately returned to its mother. Do this for no longer than two minutes. The baby is placed with his tummy on the palm of his hand and they look for sexual characteristics under the tail. In order not to disturb your baby, you can take a photo with your smartphone and then look at it for as long as necessary. You cannot pick up a kitten by pulling back the skin or pulling it by its paws or tail.
Cat's motherly love
IMPORTANT! Do not press on the baby's groin area, as this can cause pain and harm.
If the first time it was not possible to determine the sex of a newborn kitten, then you should not repeat the procedure several times a day. This will disturb the cat and she may hide the kittens.
Video - Examination of one-week-old kittens
Basic methods for determining sex
Most often, gender is determined by the genitals. However, at an early age they are poorly formed and even an experienced veterinarian does not always succeed. Therefore, other methods of identifying gender have been invented.
By behavior
At the age of several weeks, gender is determined by behavior:
- Males are more active than cats.
- Males try to take a dominant position and lead in games.
- Boys win the fight for their mother's nipples during feeding. This then extends to the best pieces of food.
The listed signs only confirm gender, but do not prove it. You can accurately determine the sex by 3-4 months of your pet’s life. In males, the scrotum is clearly visible, which is absent in females.
According to the shape of the genitals
To determine the sex of a kitten, you need to look under its tail. The girl's genitals are located close to the anus (distance no more than one centimeter). Externally, they look like a thin vertical strip. In males they look like two round dots. They are located at a distance of two to three centimeters from the anus. Closer to three months, the cat will have testicles, allowing you to determine the sex instantly.
By color
If the gender cannot be determined by the genitals, this can be done by the fur. Tortoiseshell color (a combination of three shades) indicates that the kitten is a girl. This is due to the genetic code. Black and red colors are found only on the X chromosomes. Cats always have two of them. Males are rarely tricolored. If this happens, then they are infertile, since they have only one X chromosome. Males are more likely than females to be red in color.
By feeling
The easiest way to determine gender is by palpation. It is recommended to do this when the pet reaches at least two months of age. At an earlier age, their future location can be determined by the thickness and color of their fur. It is different from other areas. When palpating, you need to be as careful as possible so as not to damage the organs. Gently run your finger over the genitals. If the animal is male, then its testicles can be felt.
The palpation method is not accurate. The testicles do not always descend from the peritoneum by three months. Newborn females may experience changes in hormonal levels. Because of this, swelling occurs under the tail and a mistake can be made in determining the sex.
By body structure
By about six months, the pet's gender is determined by external signs. Cats have an elegant body and a thin, elongated muzzle. Males have large heads. The body is stocky and muscular. There are exceptions, but they are rare.
By habits
A male at about seven months of age may begin to mark his territory. Females begin to go into heat by six months. During this period, she constantly caresses, arches her back, raising her butt up.
Cats sleep most of the time. Females try to show independence and can even be aggressive towards people; they are cleaner, wash themselves constantly and usually go to the toilet only in the tray.
DNA test
You can accurately determine the gender of a kitten using a DNA test. It is produced in veterinary clinics. Sex is revealed in this way even in the first days of life. However, the procedure is expensive. Usually owners of purebred cats (Scottish, Angora, etc.) resort to it.
At what age is gender determined?
Differences in the anatomical structure of kittens of different sexes exist and can be determined from birth. The main helpers in determining the gender of a small pet are:
- Age of the kitten: the older the baby, the easier it is to determine the gender.
- The person conducting the examination has experience with kittens.
- The ability to compare the anatomical features of several kittens.
Sexual characteristics of newborn kittens
A veterinarian or an experienced breeder who delivers several cat births annually accurately determines the gender of each kitten immediately after its birth. Of course, in newborn kittens there are only anatomical differences.
It’s easy to use knowledge of how professionals distinguish them if:
- you are observant;
- have good eyesight;
- your beloved kitty has given you a sufficient number of kittens, among which, with a high degree of probability, there are both seals and female cats - for comparison.
The appearance of the reproductive organs of a newborn cat has characteristic features:
- The openings of the “causal places” have the shape of a colon.
- The distance between the anus and the penis is 1-1.5 cm (possibly more if we are talking about kittens of large breeds).
- If you look closely, you can see the scrotum.
Anatomical details of the corresponding organs of newborn cats:
- The appearance of the anal opening and loop (vulva) is similar to a semicolon or the letter i.
- The distance between the holes is 0.5-0.7 cm for medium-sized breeds.
- The hair in the area between the holes is usually less dense in female cats than in their brothers.
Visual differences between a male kitten
Visually, a cat is recognized by the following characteristics:
- a large distance between the anus and reproductive organs (1-2 centimeters);
- genitals in the form of two points;
- the lumen of the rectum and genitals resemble the colon sign;
- fur grows between the holes;
- testicles stand out;
- cats grow and gain body weight faster;
- massive build, wide chest, large paws.
Inspection of external signs is carried out on a hard and flat surface, covered with a soft towel. The kitten is placed on its stomach and its tail is gently lifted to determine its sex.
Choosing a kitten class
Breeders know that the division into classes is very arbitrary: it only helps determine the baby’s career prospects. Often kittens of the same litter fall into different classes, but this is always the personal point of view of the breeder. In addition, in the process of growth there are transitions from breed to pet, from show to breed and vice versa.
Show class (show – display, demonstration)
This includes kittens that fully comply with the breed standard, without disqualifying characteristics or shortcomings. Reference cats are included in the top show class (top – top, highest). These animals remain in nurseries for breeding and exhibition activities. Show-class kittens (the pride, decoration and advertising of the nursery) are practically not put up for sale. Such copies are sold for a lot of money and with reservations - “on conditions” or “in co-ownership”.
Breed class (breed – tribe)
This group is represented only by cats with excellent pedigrees and excellent reproductive capabilities. They also appear at shows and win titles that give them the right to participate in breeding. With proper selection, show-class offspring are obtained from such females.
Such animals are often sold with the condition of mandatory removal of the reproductive organs, which does not prevent them from having a pedigree and claiming exhibition regalia (in the “castrati” category). The price for breed-class cats is in the average price range. It happens that show-class kittens are found among breed-quality animals. This happens due to oversight or due to insufficient experience of the breeder.
Pet class (pet – pet)
These are purebred kittens that, in the opinion of the breeder, are not of interest either for exhibitions or for breeding. They often have disqualifying defects that do not threaten health or life.
Such kittens are sold already neutered or with the condition of spaying. A pedigree for a pet-class animal is issued only at the request of the buyer: in this case, the entry “not for breeding” appears in the documents. The cost of pet quality kittens is the lowest.
Non-standard folk methods of determining the sex of a kitten
You can place a saucer of milk in front of the kitten and observe its behavior. It is believed that if a pet raises its tail up, then it is a male, and if it is lowered, it is a cat.
You can distinguish between girls and boys in a litter in the following unconventional ways:
- in cats, the aroma of urine is more pronounced;
- boys are less playful and more affectionate;
- cats have a smaller skull and a more delicate muzzle (this is not an accurate way to determine gender, the structure of the head depends on the individual characteristics of the animal);
- cats have a calm and self-confident look, while cats have a wary look in their eyes.
To the touch
Another reliable way to find out the sex of a Scottish and British kitten is to run your index and middle fingers together over the genitals. Hands must be clean! In boys, tubercles with a diameter of 3-5 mm are palpable; these are the testicles. Girls do not have such tubercles.
Still, despite the fact that it is very interesting, the MURKOTIKI website does not recommend using this method if you lack experience. Such actions can harm the kitten. Wait a little bit - and you will be able to understand who is a cat and who is a kitty by eye.
Other methods and signs
Other methods for determining the sex of kittens exist and are used:
- DNA test. This procedure is carried out by veterinarians based on a blood test of the kitten. The study is expensive and is done only in a critical situation, if it is not possible to determine the sex of a purebred kitten.
- Evaluation by sight. Cat lovers say that males look impudent and self-confident, while females are attentive and wary. The method is not precise, animals have different personalities, sometimes there are bold females with a confident look.
- Identification by the smell of urine. It is believed that even male cubs have a stronger urine smell than female kittens. A strong ammonia smell indicates that the pet is a boy.
Let's understand the terms
Both kittens look incredibly similar. These are creatures with small round ears and plush fur. Even professionals cannot always distinguish between British and Scottish Shorthair cats outwardly.
The difference is that only from a Scotsman can one get lop-eared offspring. That is, the British Shorthair is a plush, in most cases, ash-colored cat with straight ears. Her Scottish neighbor is the same, but her ears are both erect and curled. In this regard, it is called either Scottish fold (curved) or Scottish straight (straight).
The British cat is much older than its Scottish relative. It dates back to 1880, when its first representatives appeared in London. And the Scottish breed arose almost a century later. In 1961, a Scottish farmer's cat gave birth to a kitten with an atypical ear shape, which “founded” a new breed.
Note that for successful breeding of the currently popular Scottish Folds, you need to breed a straight-eared Scotsman with a fold ear. Both parents with the lop ear gene are unable to produce healthy offspring. This is due to the fact that unusual lop ears are caused by mutations in cartilage tissue and are inherited.
In order not to get too confused with breeds, passports with pedigrees and a description of the closest “relatives” of the kitten you are holding in your hands have long been invented. After all, even his straightforwardness is not a guarantee that he is a Briton. So, a British cat should have a BRI mark in its documents, an SFS one should have it, and an Erect one should have the SSS or SCS mark.
Differences in character
Behavioral differences also occur. This is due to the fact that the British themselves are a breed that in the distant past had a very specific purpose - catching rats and mice. This led to their sometimes reclusive behavior and independence. British cats can easily remain without human society for a long time without suffering in any way.
In contrast to them, there are sociable, playful and humane Scots. They easily get along with other four-legged family members and love children. They never show aggression and need human company.
Video: how to determine the sex of newborn kittens
In order to better understand how to determine the gender of a newborn kitten or an older cat, we recommend that you watch a useful video. It discusses in detail all the main aspects of the differences between male and female kittens, and also provides important recommendations for examining the animal.
As you can see, determining the sex of a newborn kitten is quite difficult. Some people even seek the help of a veterinarian for this. However, using all the recommendations described above, you will quickly be able to figure out whether the kitten in front of you is a boy or a girl. It is not even necessary to wait a couple of months before the first important signs appear. The main thing is to approach this issue carefully and do everything as carefully as possible.
Were you able to find out the gender of your kitten? Share in the comments which of the methods listed above you used for this.
Indirect differences between males and females
The following methods to determine the sex of an animal rarely work, but in appearance and in character a cat is different from a female cat, which means it’s worth a try. The gender of a cat is determined by its habits, even if the baby is one or two months old.
In appearance
As a cat matures, its skeleton takes on the shape characteristic of a female or male. Cats have an elegant, light, graceful “figure” and a corresponding gait. Boy cats are not known for their grace.
In character
It is useful to observe the baby during games. If he is active, cocky, strives to win and conquer, then this is a cat. The boys behave very confidently and look at their owner the same way. Girls are most often meek and timid. Although it is possible that there may be a timid boy or an impudent girl in the apartment.
Characteristic features of male and female genitalia in cats
In adult males, the anus, scrotum and urethra are clearly distinguishable. The penis is located between the scrotum and the anus. In a calm state, it is a fluffy tubercle. Inside the scrotum are testicles in which sperm are formed. The scrotum is visually visible when the cat's tail is raised. In furry breeds, the organ is not so clearly visible due to their long hair. To unambiguously identify a cat’s gender, he needs to wet the fur under his tail, then the testicles will be clearly visible. In females, the only external genital organs are the urethra; besides it, the anus is clearly visible under the cat’s tail, but there are no bulges.
Cat's genitals
About sterilized animals
If more than six months have passed since the cat was castrated, then his behavior and coat are almost no different from the same signs in sterilized females. After surgery, cats are left with an empty scrotum, only by feeling it can one determine the sex of the animal.
