Why don’t people want male kittens?

[chemenger]

We have a glut of male kittens in our rescue at the moment, literally every kitten we have is male. They’re all totally adorable. So why do we also have a glut of potential adopters who won’t even look at anything but female kittens? I can’t believe we’re struggling to rehome kittens when we have rehomed our entire stock of adult cats, we’re in a situation where we are clogged up with kittens.

I’ve always preferred boys, I think their nicer than female cats.

This is strange to me, my boy cat is far more cuddlesome and affectionate than my girl cat.

I too much prefer boys. Always found them much more affectionate.

Exactly, I’ve always found boys more affectionate.

Oooh whereabouts are you in the country? I want two male kittens for Christmas! (And life, obvs 😉)

We don't find this at our rescue. Some people definitely want boys, some girls, some a mixed pair and many don't mind either way about the sex.

But people don't want the black ones and they REALLY don't want the shy/timid ones.

I think it can be because boys can be thought to spray more. Our boy was neutered very early because we had a brother/sister pair and we obviously didn’t want any kittens from them and we honestly have never had any spraying. But I think this does sometimes put people off

Many people think that Females are more affectionate than Males for some reason, possibly relating them to human behaviours. There's also the thought that males are more likely to get into fights with other cats than females are - my insurance for Boycat is higher for that for Girlcat for that reason, despite them being indoor cats!

Don't understand that at all, my little boy is the sweetest thing. Got snipped early on, obviously, but you really need to be doing that for both anyway. Don't rescues normally neuter before they rehome?

The affection thing.....could someone mention that to my two, they adore my husband, it’s almost inappropriate 😂. They barely tolerate me and I do all the donkey work!

I’ve had a mix of male & female animals. I find neutered males much more affectionate than females generally. I would always choose male animals based on my own experience.

Another one who doesn't get this. In my experience boy cats are generally more friendly and 'in your face' than girls.

I love my affectionate boys! As a cat charity volunteer I too have heard some people say they worry boys will spray. And there seems to be this illusion girl cats are somehow more gentle, I've heard people say they want a girl because they have children etc...

I have two boys and four girls. The boys are cuddly lap cats and the girls are vicious killing machines 😼

They’re supposed to smell worse and spray more. That said I’ve mostly had male cats in the past and it wasn’t so bad. They did tend to get up to mischief though. We had outdoor/indoor cats and the male ones would often go walkabout or cone home bleeding after getting into a fight. I can see why someone who lets their cats out would prefer a female kitten.

We had neutered brothers, everyone used to comment how friendly and cuddly they were. Wouldn't hesitate to get males again in the future. I wonder whether as it's mainly females who are in charge of pets their default is to get the same sex animal as themselves.

When I was looking to adopt I was looking for a boy, as I had always had boys growing up and they were so ridiculously affectionate.

I ended up with a ridiculously affectionate girl but that wasn’t the original plan!

I would be lost without my two black timid brothers.
I dread to think what they would be like if they weren’t affectionate. They don’t leave me alone as it is. Always there. When awake they never stop chatting.

Still doesn’t put me off Male kittens. Would love another two but not sure how one of mine would take it. The other one he would parent them just like he does everything else. Have tried a few shelters and I can understand their refusals.

The nicest cat I ever had was male, fantastic character. Unfortunately despite being neutered young (at whatever age it was the vet recommended, to the day) he was a sprayer. Nothing helped. It was a nightmare but we obviously weren’t prepared to re-home him. I’m sorry to say that it was a relief that he only lived to be 9

I’d never, ever take the risk of that happening again.

I wonder whether as it's mainly females who are in charge of pets

No wish to get into an argument on 'the litter tray'
but I'm really not convinced that is true.

I wouldn't have another male because we've had 3 very nasty UTIs and was told by the vet boys are much more prone due to the way they're made. Also the fighting...and spraying. Good job he's really affectionate

I have a boy cat, he's neutered and like a living breathing plushie, the cuddliest gentlest cat ever. I wonder if some what female animals to breed them.

The only cat I’ve had that sprayed was female.

How odd. We prefer male cats. Our experience is they're lazier, friendlier pets than the females - who were lovely but not cuddly and very predatory on the local wildlife. Not one of our lads has sprayed - they've all been neutered as soon as they were old enough.

That’s a shame ☹️ I’ve always had boy cats and they have been so loving and sweet. Quick and easy when it comes to neutering too!