Female vs male

[Rizzlekicks]

We are wanting to get a kitten for ds. Is it true that females are more feisty than males and tend to scratch more? We ideally would like an affectionate kitten as ds has special needs. Is there a particular breed thatvwecshould be looking at?

There are no hard and fast rules here. I have three cats the beautiful moggy girl and the tailless wonder are both female and the biggest cuddle kittens ever. Beautiful moggy girl I had from a kitten the tailless wonder I only recently adopted. The posh arrogant boy I have had from a kitten he is great with kids and horrible with adults. Again breed is not an indicator either posh arrogant boy is british short hair that is supposed to be placid and beautiful moggy girl is tortie and they are known for being feisty!
In my practice I feel that the really feisty cats are equally male and female as are the cuddle kittens.
As you have special requirements it might be better to get a slightly older 9 - 12 month old cat from a rescue centre where personality is more obvious as with a kitten like our own children you really don't know what you are going to get. The cats protection league are well set up to be able to help you find the right cat.

I would second maybe a slightly older kitten/ young cat rather than a tiny one if your DS has SN.

Kittens who are very young are very unpredictable and an older one will have calmed down a lot, but still be playful.

I wouldn't read too much into the supposed gender /personality divide between cats - I've had ten cats in total in my life and whilst there was a huge difference in their individual natures, there was never a noticeable sex-bias to it.

For the record, the softest, snuggliest, soppiest mog I have ever had is the female calico currently draped over my lap. Calicos / torties are supposed to be highly-strung nutcases, and females are supposed to be less affectionate, but this one could not be more laid back and attention-seeking if she tried.

Her little white fluffy sister is a bundle of nerves who will tolerate a chin-scratch but won't sit on my knee for more than three seconds - their predecessor, Evil Fluffy Black Cat, (aka the Demonspawn From Hell) was a male and an aggressive, unpredictable nutter - the two cats before him were old ladies, one a stand-offish back-to-the-wilds hunter and the other an eternal kitten, playful into old age and always desperate for human company.

My advice to you is to get a slightly older kitten from a rescue, where the carers will be able to tell you what sort of a cat you're getting before you take them home.

second what everyone else has said i have a girlie who will lie in my arms like a baby a boy who likes my lap, 2 boys who while they will sit next to me for fuss dont do cuddles and a young 6-9 month old from a rescue will have developed thier character and the rescue will know which ones will be suitable

They are all so different. I fostered a couple at one point who were total oposites. One was completley white, alloof, sould come down from the windowsill for food and nothing else.

The other was totally black and an absolloute loon, but also very affectionate.

Cats do seem to tolerate cchildren more than adults. I agree in getting an older kitten or young cat and from a rescue.