Male cat or female cat: which one to adopt?

The first question we ask ourselves before adopting a cat is usually which sex would be best. Indeed, the common places want the male to be more playful and feisty than the female, while the latter would be softer and at the same time more distant...

But it sometimes happens to hear people say the opposite, which proves that generalities are not to be taken at the very least! In reality, if we can observe certain tendencies in the behavior of male or female cats, it is above all the temperament specific to each animal that should be taken into account to choose it.

The behavior of the male cat

Again, observations made on the behavior of male cats can only reveal trends. Moreover, it is important to be aware that these differences will only appear at the time of puberty, corresponding to the sexual maturity of the cat. This is when your cat might start running away, marking his territory, and fighting with other cats if he has access to the outdoors.

He can thus be more easily injured or even risk being hit by a vehicle because he will be more adventurous than a female. However, some male cats, even whole, have a calm and homebody temperament and will not necessarily come up against the dangers of the street! Note however that, for these reasons, the life expectancy of males is statistically shorter than that of females...

Moreover, adopting a cat rather than a cat removes the risk of ending up with unwanted litter on your arms. Each sex, therefore, has its advantages and disadvantages, but these differences can easily be resolved by sterilization, which also makes it possible to put an end to the undesirable behavior of urine marking in the male.

Differences that are not acquired

Even more, than the behavioral tendencies already mentioned, the character of the male cat is far from always being the same! However, the testimonies lead to believe that tomcats are more cuddly and present than females while being more proud and solitary. However, a cat will be just as capable of sulking at you if you have left your home for several days...

Male kittens also have a reputation for being more playful and dynamic, and smaller females for being more shy and reserved. But in truth, this can be the lot of all kittens. Within a litter, we will see very different temperaments between the little ones regardless of their sex. This is why a fine observation of their attitudes is the best solution to make a choice rather than focusing on this criterion. A young female can act just as small in terror as a young male!

Also, in terms of getting along with the family and other animals in the household, it is equally wrong to take for granted the tendency to rivalry and fight generally attributed to male cats, this behavioral trait essentially concerns intercourse. between conspecifics of the same sex in the context of territorial and sexual conflicts.

The behavior of the female cat

While cats have this major drawback of being in heat, a phenomenon whose manifestations can be difficult to bear: untimely and continuous meowing, urinary marking, stress, excitement... Fortunately, all these undesirable effects can be definitively eliminated by sterilization. It should be noted that this operation is more expensive in the female than castration in the male, this financial aspect being able to constitute an important argument.

A cat can have up to four litters a year, so the question of sterilization should not be overlooked! In terms of daily life, the female is often thought to be easier to live with than the male because it is more discreet but also more homely. However, this again depends on the temperament of each animal and the expectations you have of the relationship with it. Some females can be extremely independent and you won't see them indoors often, heat or not!

If they have the reputation of being more often shy, fearful, or reserved than males, keep in mind that a cat's sociability also depends on the education and habits given to it.

Ask the right questions

As you will have understood, the sex of your future cat cannot be enough to determine its behavior with certainty. It is therefore not a decisive factor for the success of your relationship. On the other hand, the sexual differences between males and females involve practical aspects that must be the subject of a considered decision.

If you want to let him/her out, adopting a female means taking the risk of unwanted litter, unless you lock her up during the heat. Be aware that these periods of heat will be difficult to live with and that you will probably have to consider sterilization. For a male cat, the major problem will be urine marking in the house if he is not able to go outside. The choice must therefore be made according to your situation: housing, lifestyle, budget...