How Do You Know if a Cat Is a Boy

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Male and female cats and kittens look and deed similarly, so information technology tin can exist difficult to tell what sex they are just by watching their behavior. If you know what to look for, yet, in that location are several fundamental differences that will let you lot to differentiate between the sexes. Newborn kittens will have immature genitalia, so wait until the cats are a few weeks old to determine their sex.

1. 1

   Approach the true cat or kitten with care. To define the sexual activity of a true cat or kitten, it'south necessary to pick the cat upwards. Some cats don't like to be handled, then take a little time to let him or her get comfortable effectually you.

   • Stand or crouch nearly the cat and let him or her approach you. When the cat comes close, let him or her sniff your hand.
   • If the true cat seems nervous, you may take to come up dorsum afterward or take a partner help you with the next pace.

2. ii

   Lift the true cat'southward tail. Gently pick upwards the cat and cradle him or her in one arm. Use your gratis hand to lift the tail so y'all can examine the genital surface area.

   • If the cat doesn't mind existence handled, this may exist easiest to perform while sitting on a chair or the couch, so you don't have to worry near dropping the cat.
   • If you're working with a partner, have the partner concord the cat deeply in both arms while you lift the tail.
   • If the true cat avoids having his or her tail lifted, try scratching him or her in the expanse where the tail meets the back. Cats ordinarily lift their tails when they are touched in this spot.^[1]

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3. 3

   Look for genitalia characteristic of a male cat. The surest way to tell the departure between a male and female cat is by examining the true cat's physical features below its tail. Begin by looking for male genital features, which can be somewhat easier to spot.

   • A male person cat will have an anus, scrotum, and penis, while a female person true cat will have but an anus and urinary tract opening.
   • In an entire (or tom) cat, the scrotum is covered with fur and contains ii testicles, each typically ranging in size from the size of cherry pits to bodily cherries. The scrotum sticks out from the male person true cat'due south rear every bit a fairly obvious pair of bumps. If the cat has long fur, this can brand the scrotum more difficult to see, in which case try dampening the fur with h2o to flatten information technology down and brand the scrotum more obvious.
   • A neutered male cat will still take a scrotum, though it volition typically exist smaller.^[2]
   • The penis is sited below the scrotum, beneath the skin, and exits at a pocket-sized furry mound between the cat's thighs. Yous might imagine a male person cat's genitalia resembling a colon (:).
   • A male person cat's anus and urinary tract opening are at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart, or ¹⁄_two inch (1.iii cm) for kittens.

4. 4

   Expect for genitalia characteristic of a female cat. If the cat's genitalia doesn't announced to match that of a male cat, begin looking for female traits.

   • A female person cat will accept an anus and a urinary tract opening/vulva, with the vulva in the shape of a vertical slit. You tin imagine a female cat'southward ballocks as resembling a semi-colon (;).^[3]
   • A female person cat will have a shorter distance between anus and vulva, typically about ¹⁄₂ inch (i.3 cm) apart.

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1. one

   Check the color. If you accept a litter of kittens, await at the colour of the cats; some cat colorations are sexual practice-specific and can help you determine the sex of the cat.

   • Cats that are calico or tortoiseshell colored are typically female person.
   • More than orange or ginger colored cats are male person than female, simply this is not an accurate way to determine a cat's sexual activity.^[four]

2. 2

   Watch for sex-specific behaviors among intact (not neutered or spayed) cats. It'south easier to tell the sex activity of intact cats, since they naturally display the habits and characteristics of their sexual activity.

   • Male cats that have not been neutered tend to be more aggressive than females and to have larger heads and thick skin. They like to roam, sometimes leaving for a few days at a time. They mark their territory by spraying it with strong-smelling urine.^[5]
   • Female cats are less likely to spray their surroundings.

3. iii

   Watch for signs that the cat is in heat or is or has been pregnant. Female cats that have not been spayed will go into heat, a state of fertility that enables them to get pregnant, every 3-5 weeks during warm weather (or in a house that's climate controlled). Cats in heat display recognizable behaviors:

   • Making vocal sounds to attract males. The true cat may sound similar it is in pain or whining.
   • Moving the tail to the side to evidence genitalia or crouching into a receptive posture. The vulva may exist secreting a articulate discharge.
   • Rubbing upwards against inanimate objects, owners, or other animals more than usual.^[six]
   • Pregnant female cats have depression-hanging, distended bellies.
   • Female cats that have given nascency may have nipples that beetle from their bellies. Be careful when using nipples to determine sexual practice, since both male and female cats accept nipples.

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Add New Question

• Question

  I have a ginger, polydactyl cat that is affectionate and loves cuddles. My other true cat is also ginger and is submissive to the start cat. Is that one male person besides?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinarian surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a caste in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

  

  Veterinary

  Expert Answer

  Ginger cats tin can be male or female, and both male person and female cats can exist submissive to others; therefore, it'south not possible to tell what gender your true cat is based on this information alone. Your best bet is to compare the rear ends of both cats, and see if they are the aforementioned (both male person) or different (one male, one female.) If it's tricky to agree both at once, try taking a picture on your phone.

• Question

  Is it possible for a male kitten'south genitalia to exist closer than an inch to the anal opening?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over thirty years of feel in veterinary surgery and companion animal do. She graduated from the Academy of Glasgow in 1987 with a caste in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same beast clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Proficient Answer

  Yes, if the kitten is small. Information technology's often helpful with immature kittens to compare the separation of the openings with others of the same age. Frequently this makes things a lot clearer.

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• The best way to determine the sexual practice of a cat is to look at the ballocks. Noticing personality differences is non the nigh accurate way to decide a cat'southward sexual practice, since about experts claim that it'south a myth that male and female person cats accept personality differences.

• If you lot're working solo, consider wearing leather gloves and a long-sleeved shirt to protect yourself from scratches when doing a physical examination.

• If the cat doesn't know yous or is a scared stray, don't attempt to do a physical examination. Await until the cat becomes comfortable with you, or take it to come across a vet.

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Article Summary Ten

To make up one's mind the sexual activity of a cat, approach the brute carefully and slowly to let information technology get comfortable with you earlier you pick it up. In one case you have the true cat in your arms, hold it with 1 hand and so that its paws are facing the ground, and and then gently lift its tail so you can meet the genital area. Look at this area to run into if the cat has a scrotum, which will look like 2 hairy bumps under the anus. If it does, the cat is male. If the cat doesn't have a scrotum and you can see an anus and a urinary tract opening, the cat is female. For advice on determining the cat'southward sex activity through color patterns and behavioral differences, read on!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Determine-the-Sex-of-a-Cat

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