Is it Better to Adopt a MALE or FEMALE CAT? 🐱 DIFFERENCES

If you're thinking of adopting a cat, it's understandable you'll want to know if it is better to adopt a male or female. You wonder if their sex will make any impact on the care you will need to provide and whether this affects your family and lifestyle. At Animal Wise, we explain what you need to consider when adopting a cat. Characteristics of a Female Cat Before we begin, it is important to know that although a cat's behaviour is partly influenced by their sex, there are many other factors which will influence how they behave. The following characteristics are generalised. Loving, Homey and Protective Female cats are often more affectionate and homey. They tend to seek physical contact frequently, want to feel safe in their trusted environment and are often protective of their family. This need arises from the maternal instinct, in particular looking for a safe and comfortable refuge if they want to have a litter. Intolerant of Sudden Change Due to a need for security, female cats tend to tolerate less sudden changes in habits and environment. Heat Cycle and Neutering in Cats Another point to keep in mind is that females have a heat cycle, usually between the spring and summer. During these stages, cats experience stress and anxiety, meow frequently, may spray urine in the home and or run away. This poses a danger to the cat and a nuisance to the guardians. Additionally, there is a risk they can become pregnant and contribute to an uncontrolled growth of the cat population. Unfortunately, there are often not enough families to adopt them, which can lead to them being mistreated or abandoned. Here we share a video in which we explain everything you need to know about the heat cycle in cats. However, there is an important solution to this problem, namely the neutering of your cat. In this way, you will prevent many factors that can harm your cat as well as prevent health problems such as developing ovarian cysts. Characteristics of a Male Cat Unlike females who tend to prefer to stay around the home, male cats can have an active sex drive which causes them to often go outside from the home to seek females in heat. Independent Male cats often have a more independent nature and are more boisterous in character. This can become problematic as they tend to run away and wander due to their need to explore and search for mates. This behaviour can lead to becoming lost or even risk having an accident. Competitive Males often get into conflict with other males due to competition for territory and mates. This means they are more likely to receive injuries such as scratches and biting which can, in turn, transmit disease more easily. Other than fighting, males will often develop urine spraying to mark territory and warn other cats away. Neutering Male Cats For the reasons we have mentioned, it is always advisable to castrate your cat as soon as it is possible and before they are This is the safest option for them. While it may be possible to contain and prevent them running away, an unneutered male will still feel anxious and frustrated because they are not allowed to exercise their sexual behaviour. They can become very stressed and develop behavioural problems. Neutering a cat will help reduce potential problems and inappropriate behaviours such as marking. Regardless of the sex of a cat, however, it is important to remember socialisation, environmental factors and other influences will also determine how they act as an individual cat. If this video makes you think whether you should neuter your cat, we share a video up here in which we explain everything you should know, such as the difference between the operation for males and females. Are you thinking of adopting a kitten? If so, let us know in the comments and we'll see you next time!