Male and female cats and kittens look and behave similarly to each other, so it is difficult to tell the sexes apart just by observing their behavior. However, if you know what to look out for, there are some key differences that can help you tell the sex of your cat. Newborn kittens have immature genitals, so wait until the cat is a few weeks old to determine the sex.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Determining Gender Based on Physical Form
Step 1. Approach the cat or kitten carefully
To be able to determine the sex of a cat or kitten, you will need to lift the body. Some cats don't like to be touched, so give them time to feel comfortable around you.
- Stand or bend down near the cat and allow it to approach you. If the cat comes closer, let it sniff your hand.
- If your cat seems tense, you may need to try again later or ask someone to help you with the next steps.
Step 2. Lift the cat's tail
Pick up the cat and gently hug it with one hand. Use your free hand to lift the cat's tail so you can examine its genitals.
- If your cat doesn't resist being touched, it's easier to examine it while sitting on a chair or couch, so you don't have to worry about the cat falling over.
- If you are working with someone, ask him to hold the cat tightly in both hands while you lift the cat's tail.
- If your cat refuses to lift its tail, try rubbing the back where it meets the tail. Cats will usually lift their tail when touched in this area.
Step 3. Pay attention to the shape of the male cat's genitals
The surest way to tell a male from a female cat is to examine the physical appearance on the underside of their tail. Start by examining the male genitalia, which are sometimes easier to spot.
- Male cats have an anus, scrotum, and penis, while female cats only have an anus and urinary tract.
- In all male cats, the scrotum is covered with hair and consists of two testes, each varying in size from the size of a cherry seed to a cherry fruit. The cat's scrotum protrudes outward on the cat's back and looks like a lump. If the cat's fur is long enough, the scrotum may be covered making it difficult to see, in this case, moistening the coat with water to flatten it can make the scrotum appear more defined.
- Spawn male cats still have a scrotum, although they are usually smaller in size.
- A cat's penis is located under the scrotum, under the skin, and outward in the hairy mound between the cat's thighs. You can imagine the male cat's genital shape is like a colon (:).
- A male cat's anus and urinary tract are at least 2.5 cm or 1.3 cm apart in kittens.
Step 4. Pay attention to the shape of the female cat's genitals
If your cat's genitals don't match the male's, try checking the shape of the female's genitals.
- Female cats have an anus and urinary tract/vulva, with the vulva shaped like a vertical wedge. You can imagine the shape of a female cat's genitals like a semicolon (;).
- The distance between the anus and the vulva in female cats is shorter, usually about 1.3 cm.
Method 2 of 2: Determining Gender Through Other Differences
Step 1. Pay attention to the color of the cat
If you have a lot of kittens, pay attention to their color; some of the color patterns of cats are related to their gender and can help you tell the difference.
- Cats of calico or tortoise-shell color are usually female.
- More male cats are orange or red than female cats, but these colors are not accurate in determining the sex of a cat.
Step 2. Monitor sex-related behavior in unsterilized cats
It will be easier to determine the sex of a cat that is not spayed because these cats naturally show the habits and characteristics of their sex.
- Male cats that are not spayed tend to be more aggressive than female cats, and also tend to have larger heads and thicker skin. Male cats like to wander around, sometimes being away for a few days at a time. Male cats mark their territory by spraying pungent urine.
- Female cats are much less likely to squirt urine around them.
Step 3. Watch for signs your cat is cloudy or pregnant
A female cat that is not spayed will undergo a heat cycle, a fertile condition that allows her to become pregnant, every 3-5 weeks in warm weather (or indoors with controlled temperatures). Cloudy cats exhibit easily recognizable behaviors:
- Meows to attract male cats. This sound may sound like pain or a complaint.
- Move the tail sideways to show the genitals or stretch the body to expose the body. A cat's vulva may also have a clear discharge.
- Rubbing inanimate objects, their owners, or other animals more often than usual.
- A pregnant female cat has a wide, hanging belly.
- Female cats that have given birth have nipples protruding from their abdomens. Be careful when using nipples to determine the sex of a cat, as both male and female cats have nipples.
Tips
- The best way to determine the sex of a cat is to look at its genitals. Seeing the differences for yourself is the most accurate way to determine the sex of a cat, as most experts claim that the differences in the behavior of male and female cats are just a myth.
- If you are determining the sex of your cat alone, wear leather gloves and long-sleeved clothing to protect yourself from cat scratches while examining him.
- If the cat doesn't recognize you, or if the cat is stray and frightened, don't try to physically examine it. Wait until the cat is comfortable with you, or take him to the vet.
