Battle of the Sexes

Deciding between a male or female cat is a decision most pet owners have to face once in a while. In most cases, it comes down to an issue of personal preference. Some people prefer girls, others would rather have a boy – it’s as simple as that!

Regardless of your choice, it is advisable to have your cat desexed unless you are intending to keep him/her for breeding purposes. This is important for population control, as well as for limiting the nuisance caused to you (in the shape of unwanted attention from neighbourhood toms or by your frisky male cat!) and for lessening the chances of the cat developing various types of cancer and other ailments. Generally speaking, desexed cats live longer, healthier lives.

Pros for female cats
•    Female cats are less likely to spray (mark their territory) than males.
•    Female cats tend to be less aggressive than males, particularly males that haven’t been desexed.
•    Female cats generally make better mousers than males (although spayed/neutered cats of both sexes make fine mousers as they spend their time thinking about hunting rather than mating).

Cons for female cats
•    It is more expensive to have a female cat desexed than a male.
•    If not desexed, a female cat can produce a litter before her first birthday. Unspayed females also have a tendency to ‘yowl’.
•    Females tend to be more cautious than males and slower to show affection to you. But once they do trust you, they can be just as affectionate as males.

Pros for male cats
•    Male cats are typically friendlier than females. They tend to revel in shows of affection.
•    Male cats are normally bigger than females – so there’s more of them to cuddle!

Cons for male cats
•    Males are prone to spraying, leaving a very unpleasant smell behind that can be tricky to remove. Having your cat desexed at an early age will help eliminate this problem.
•    Males that haven’t been desexed have a tendency to roam if a nearby female is in heat. They are also more territorial and more likely to get into fights, sometimes with painful – and costly – consequences.
There is a school of thought suggesting that if you already have a cat and are thinking about getting another one, make sure it is of the opposite sex as it greatly reduces the chance of fights and other integration issues. However, there are plenty of stories to counter this perception.

Of course, the bottom line is that whichever sex you opt for, it is important to remember that each animal is an individual, with its own distinct personality, so some exhibit typical behaviour and others don’t. Regardless, plenty of love and affection is essential to make your cat an integral part of your family.

Images by Tambako the Jaguar & Whiskeygonebad