Do you know if you have a boy or girl kitten?Young males and females have differences in genitalia that can be more subtle than in adults.Sexing a kitten doesn't have to be hard if you know what you're looking for.Even though veterinarians can sometimes mistake the sex of a kitten, a vet's opinion can help you feel better.
Step 1: Make sure the kitten is well cared for.
Young kittens are vulnerable to the cold.They rely on the mother's body heat for warmth until they are able to warm themselves on their own.The health of a kitten can be damaged if it is separated from its mother.To avoid adversely affecting the kitten or its health, follow these guidelines when handling it and trying to determine its sex.
Step 2: Remove the kitten's tail.
The most direct way to determine the sex of a kitten is to check its genitals.A kitten won't let you lift its tail and expose its genitals.Always be gentle.Handling a kitten roughly can cause pain and may cause the kitten to lash out in self-defense.The kitten is very fragile if held by its tail.After petting the kitten for a few minutes, gently lay it on a clean towel and lift its tail.If it shows resistance, return it to its mother.The kitten's head should be directed away from you.Don't pull the tail.If the kitten isn't willing to let you look beneath its tail, get a partner to help.The partner can gently hold the kitten in their arms.You can try to get the kitten to lift its tail by scratching where the back meets the tail.There should be two openings for the kitten.The male or female genitalia is at the top of the anus.
Step 3: The shape of the lower opening is important.
If you have more than one kitten, you might compare them.It is easier to distinguish males from females by comparing them directly.A female kitten's vagina will look like a small slit.The anus and genital openings on a female kitten and a male kitten are the same color.The anus and genital openings on a male kitten look like a colon.
Step 4: Take a look at the distance between the openings.
Female kittens have a lower anogenital distance than males, so you can use it to distinguish the sexes.A female kitten's genital opening is placed closer to the anus.The kitten's genital opening is below the anus.
Step 5: Testosterones should be checked for.
Young males have testicles that are not always obvious.Don't force the genitals to be touched.Attempting to forcefully extend a male cat's penis can lead to long-term damage.There is a space between the genital opening and the anus.The scrotum is where the kitten is likely to have a small bulge or pouch.You can feel for a scrotum in kittens that are at least a month or two old.To feel for testicles, pinch the area between the anus and genital opening.You may feel a small lump.Young male kittens may have testicles that have retreated into the inguinal canal and cannot yet be felt.
Step 6: Sex-specific coat colors can be found.
The sex of a kitten can be determined by the color of its fur.There are certain colors that require two X chromosomes to appear, like tortoiseshell and calico, which have large patches of black, white, and orange.Female cats have two X chromosomes while male cats only have one, so males can't have these colors unless there is a rare genetic disorder.Cats with orange stripes are more likely to be male.
Step 7: There are signs of a heat cycle
After about 10 months, most unspayed female kittens will begin to show signs of being in heat.A female cat can be in heat for up to 19 days.The average cycle for a female cat that does not mate is about 8 days, but the cycle is often shorter for cats that do.If a cat in heat displays certain telling behaviors, it may indicate that the cat is female.Beginning to meow more loudly, harshly, and frequently.It may begin to sound like howling as it grows in intensity.A female cat rests on its front legs while hyperextending the back and lifting its tail and rear end in the air.There is spraying of urine.
Step 8: Check the urine for strong odors.
When a neutered male cat becomes sexually mature, he will often start spraying urine.Even if he's well-trained, a male cat can spray outside the litter box.Most people find the smell of urine unpleasant.
Step 9: Take a look at the kitten's facial features.
You won't be able to tell differences in physical features until the cat is mature.There are certain features you can look for once the cat is mature.An unneutered male will be lean and muscular, with thicker bones in the skull and jaw.A stud tail is a set of glands at the base of the tail that produce an oily substance called sebum.The area near the base of the tail can have a variety of effects, including greasy or matted hair, absent, thin, or patchy hair and/or a foul smell.