How to tell if a kitten is male or female: Vet’s step-by-step guide
Not sure how to tell if a kitten is male or female? Whether you’re breeding kittens or raising them from newborns, there’s a lot you need to know!
Caring for older or newborn kittens is a big responsibility. Not only do you need to consider everything they need to live a long and happy life – from their basic education and socialization to their dietary needs – you should also add preparing for their first vet visit to your checklist!
Of course, your veterinarian can help you with a variety of questions, but chances are you’ll want to try and determine your kitten’s sex at home.
If you’re unsure if your new addition is a boy or girl, or you’re surrounded by a litter of kittens and don’t know which are male and which are female, here are some tips to help.
At what age can you gender a kitten?
Determining the sex of a kitten is easiest when the external genitalia are more clearly visible around 6 to 8 weeks of age.
Of course, it’s understandable that you might want to know your kitten’s sex beforehand. It is best not to handle them much before 2 weeks of age as this can stress the mother cat or cause her to reject the kittens.
So if you want to try sex sooner rather than later, 2 to 3 weeks is a good time to give it a try.
Ways to determine the sex of a kitten
genitals
Although looking at your kitten’s genitals is by far the most accurate way to tell if he’s male or female, did you know that a few other things could give you a clue?
color and markings
Some color patterns are associated with specific genders in cats. For example, tortoiseshells (aka “torties” or calicos) are almost always female.
If they don’t have obvious female genitalia, they’re likely intersex and may have a combination of male and female parts.
Ginger cats are more often male than female, however there are female ginger cats so it’s always best to check them out!
behavior
It’s a bit of a cliché, but male kittens are usually more mischievous, active, and boisterous than female kittens! I once brought home a very young kitten who was thought to be female but was too young to be sure.
However, her naughty behavior soon made me feel something was wrong and after one more look it was clear she was a he! He still lives with me now, and luckily there haven’t been any damaged couches or disassembled bathrooms for a while!
size
Male kittens are often larger than female kittens, but not always. Although you might assume that the larger kitten is male and the smaller one is female, you could be wrong!
Ask your vet
If you’ve tried it yourself but are still stumped, why not ask your local veterinary team to sex your kitty?
You’ll need to take your kitty for their first health check and vaccination anyway, and your vet won’t mind taking a look.
If you have further questions, e.g. B. when and how to wean your kitten, you can ask them at this appointment.
Handling Your Kitten During Sex
The mother cat won’t be too happy if you suddenly rush in and snatch one of her babies! Once the kittens are over two weeks old, you should slowly and gently acclimate the mother to your presence for a few moments, and then handle the babies.
Once the mother is more comfortable, hold the kitten close to her while gently holding her in the palm of your hand, with her head and neck resting between her index finger and thumb, and her legs pointing upwards.
If the mother cat becomes restless or the kitten seems stressed, stop immediately and try again another time.
dr Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCVS
dr Hannah Godfrey is a small animal vet with a passion for dentistry and soft tissue surgery. She lives in Wales with her partner, son and two cats.
How can you tell if a kitten is male?
- Gently pick up the kitten and place it in one palm with the paws facing up and the rear end toward you.
- If it’s easier, you can ask someone to hold them for you so you can focus on looking good.
- Identify her anus and genitals, which should look like two circles.
- A larger gap develops between the anus and the genitals (penis), where the testicles will soon develop.
- Their genitals (penis) are round rather than slit-shaped.
How can you tell if a kitten is female?
- Follow steps 1 and 2 above for sexing a male kitten.
- Identify her anus and genitals, which should look like a dot and line or an “i” shape.
- The anus and vulva/urethra will be very close together.
- Their genitals (vulva) form a line or slit instead of being round.
summary
When it comes to sexing your kittens, it’s a bit tricky. However, with the tips above, you’ll soon find out if you have a purring prince or princess! Don’t forget, however, that your local veterinarian or veterinarian can help if you have problems.