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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

male or female kitten?

39 replies

hashtagwhatever · 22/10/2013 18:41

Hi all,

we have decided to get the dc a kitten. have some to view on weekend and have a choice of male or female

is there any pros or cons to having either sex?.

any advice would be gratefully received.

tia x

OP posts:

BloodysocksAndGore · 22/10/2013 18:43

In my experience males are more affectionate. why not get one of each? much more fun.

kikipie · 22/10/2013 18:46

I think it is good to have a pair, they play with each other which means less wear and tear on the furniture, for one thing, and they are good company for each other. Males are very affectionate, on the whole, and the neutering is a much easier process - we have 14 cats, all rescues!

moonbells · 22/10/2013 19:33

If you only want one, then let one pick you! See who is more interested in saying hello. But given the choice I would recommend both!

caveat: I have one of each, though the female is the male's mum and they are currently Not Speaking unless it's in hiss or growl. I suspect two kittens the same age would be happier trying to play together.

sweetkitty · 22/10/2013 19:46

There's not much difference but personally a neutered boy would be my choice. Two would be great too, watching them put all their hair up and jump sideways at each other is just fab.

catameringue · 22/10/2013 19:51

Get a pair.
Females are smaller so pick which size of claw you want to be attacked by!

TheNunsOfGavarone · 22/10/2013 20:10

Hi Tia,

One of each sounds fun - but don't forget to have them neutered!

Also do consider getting a slightly older cat/cats. I say this because with an adult cat, even a young one, the character will be more fully developed and you will know what you're getting and how they are likely to respond to children.

Kittens are adorable but children (well my nephew anyway!) sometimes find them frustrating as they aren't reliably playful like puppies, for example. They may prefer to play and snuggle up with each other instead of seeking humans out and they will run away and hide if they've had enough human attention. Well, adult cats sometimes do that too, but some are more child-friendly than others!

Original poster

hashtagwhatever · 22/10/2013 21:21

Thank you all for your advice.

If I were to get a boy who was a house cat and didn't go out is it still best to get him neutered?

OP posts:

DontCallMeBaby · 22/10/2013 21:23

God yes - he'll piss all over the place otherwise.

TheNunsOfGavarone · 22/10/2013 21:50

Yes definitely! As well as weeing everywhere he might get escape and impregnate neighbouring kitties!

cozietoesie · 22/10/2013 21:55

I'd be tempted to go for an older cat, hashtag. If you get the right one, they're wise, tolerant and loving - much more likely to be able to get on well and adapt to a new household with DCs. Is it a rescue you're planning to visit at the weekend? (Rescue staff have usually had a chance to assess their charges - or know their history - and can advise on suitability.)

thecatneuterer · 22/10/2013 22:19

Hashtag, as you weren't sure you needed to get an indoor boy cat neutered I just wanted to check that you know that indoor female cats also need neutering? If they are not neutered, apart from trying anything to get out, including flinging themselves off 10 floor balconies or out of windows, they also end up going insane, often becoming very fierce and attacking their owners.

So it's vital that you get any indoor-only cat neutered, whether male or female.

CockyMcChicken · 22/10/2013 22:22

We got a male kitten and he is the most loving cat ever. He was totally devoted to us from day 1 and is so tolerant with my children.

Having grown up with female cats who were not so friendly I would go for a male every time.

cozietoesie · 22/10/2013 22:26

I always get on best with male cats - but that's just me. The personality of the animal, male or female, is the important thing, I think.

scarlettsmummy2 · 22/10/2013 22:29

With children I would say get a boy! I have had two female bengals, gorgeous but really humpy and independent! My male moggies all more loyal and affectionate.

Original poster

hashtagwhatever · 22/10/2013 23:29

ok, maybe I should get myself a book on cats too seems there is alot I dont know. Maybe we would be better off rescuing a older cat. am I right in thinking the cat would have been neutered and vaccinated then?.

we have a little garden I would like to let the cat out into but the main door is shared access. not sure neighbours would be best pleased with a cat flap.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 22/10/2013 23:35

Usually, a rescue will have cats that are neutered vaccinated and chipped. They'll charge you a fee but this is likely to be significantly cheaper than the cost of having the necessary done yourself - it's a donation towards costs really.

Have a look at \link{http://www.catchat.org/adoption/index.html\shelters in your area} to see what's around. Many of them have websites with some of the cats looking for homes and, often, details of their homing policies.

Original poster

hashtagwhatever · 22/10/2013 23:42

brilliant thanks for the link cozie.

OP posts:

Lonecatwithkitten · 23/10/2013 02:26

In my hands females are the more loving cats and males more aloof and spiteful.

Fluffycloudland77 · 23/10/2013 08:28

I get on better with male cats so I'm the opposite of lone. Personalities the main thing.

I'd go for an adult from a rescue. You can keep the kitten phase, I'm over that.

I've seen rescues charge £60 plus for a cat but neuterings best part of £50, more down south from what family tell me, vaccinations are £50, chippings £10-20 so it's a bargain really.

catameringue · 23/10/2013 12:15

Don't forget you'll need to get the fluff ball vaccinated every year.

Neutering in cats isn't too pricey if you want a kitten.

If you're going down the indoor cat route you'll need a variety of things for it to climb and scratch.

DidoTheDodo · 23/10/2013 12:44

I have a 6 month old female kitty (after 15 years of a male cat) and she is just as loving and affectionate as the boy cat was.

Having had both over the years, I don't think I could generalise about gender differences, only that all cats have their own personalities.

I am quite totally in love with my Didokitty, despite her being a female tortie - which everyone warned us against as she would be "certain to be mad"!

Branleuse · 23/10/2013 13:00

in my experience, theyre all the same as kittens, but once adults, then female cats want to spend all their time outside hunting, and are much more independent, but a neutered male wil more likely stay a big friendly softy forever

DidoTheDodo · 23/10/2013 15:27

The most affectionate cat I ever had was female. She would follow me everywhere (including into playgroup to collect the children) and mew to be picked up and cuddled.

umiaisha · 23/10/2013 16:32

I am new to cat ownership, but for what its worth the breeder who we got our kitty from said that the girls are more independent and more content to be left at home if you go out to work. The boys apparently are better in pairs and a lot more affectionate.

We went for a girl and she is very affectionate but very serious at the same time if that makes sense!

devilinside · 24/10/2013 00:09

Sorry, I think this is crap. Whether they are friendly or not, depends on how much they were handled as kittens. My soppy old male cat, is out hunting 24/7. My sister's female cat is the friendliest cat, I've ever met.

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