DO YOU PREFER MALE OR FEMALE CATS?

I've had so many cats in my home from years of fostering and rehabilitating, but never noticed one sex being more social or affectionate than another. What I have noticed, which seemed to have a bigger impact, was when the animal was neutered/spayed. Males who were neutered after they'd matured and used their "equipment" were not as much fun as males who'd been neutered as soon as their testicles dropped (I've had males done as young as 10 weeks and have heard of them being done sooner). The effects were similar with females. The ones who were spayed after having their first heat or after having a litter (or two), were more aloof (maybe more mellow) than females who had been done before their first heat.

Even with feral rehabs, I don't recall much difference, except they, no matter what sex, seemed to bond with one person and prefer that person above all others. Some would tolerate other people and some would be friendly. But I had some feral rehabs who became so protective of their person that anyone getting near their person would be inviting attack. Now that I think about it, the worst one I ever had who was like that was a male.

When my household numbers have been down below a dozen, I've usually ended up with the 2 females to 1 male ratio. Never really thought about it, but it just always ended up that way...

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Originally posted by gini:
In all of the years I have owned cats, I have only had one female. Patches is a sixteen year old Calico. She is just like a problem child that you dearly love. She was about six months old when we adopted her and I must confess I seriously thought about returning her. The day we adopted her and put her in the car she started in - and hasn't stopped for sixteen years. She is spiteful, pees on everything, is beyond demanding and is very jealous. She does anything to get her way.

My males have been the exact opposite and very easy to train. All of my males have been my little soul mates.

What is your experience?

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Originally posted by gini:
In all of the years I have owned cats, I have only had one female. Patches is a sixteen year old Calico. She is just like a problem child that you dearly love. She was about six months old when we adopted her and I must confess I seriously thought about returning her. The day we adopted her and put her in the car she started in - and hasn't stopped for sixteen years. She is spiteful, pees on everything, is beyond demanding and is very jealous. She does anything to get her way.

My males have been the exact opposite and very easy to train. All of my males have been my little soul mates.

What is your experience?

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I've had a lot of cats, and always had better luck with males. They have always been quite a bit more affectionate. My little female died last year, and I miss her lots. We have a male left at home now, and are getting a kitten in April, and we requested little boy-baby, because we feel so sure that males are mellower. My kitty at home now sleeps with us every night (usually on my pillow), plays fetch, watches tv w/ us, loves to be held like a baby, and "grooms" us. He also seems to know when you're upset, and will give you kisses on your ears! Also, contrary to what you always hear, males do NOT spray any more often than females (as long as they are fixed). I have had females that sprayed. I think the reason females are a little more difficult, is because they are a little more territorial or something, but I'm not sure about that. Does anyone know??

You know, the only cats I've ever had that didn't perch, whether they were male or female, tabby or -and whites, calicos or solid, yellow or black, etc. were the ones that couldn't jump, either from age, disease, injury or weight. And one little guy who was evidently "too white", because he never jumped, he only climbed.

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Originally posted by SpencerTheLion:
...yes, it seems females are more territorial and tend to like high perches more than the males, esp. calicos. On the spraying thing, I suspect if they are neutered early and have plenty of territory there is less urge to mark things.

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Oh, how I wish that it was true. Patches was already spayed when we adopted her at six months of age. She has sprayed whether she was an only cat, with another cat or two cats. She has ruined my carpeting and just this morning after feeding her and giving her lots of time on my lap while I was at the computer, she jumped down and sprayed on a door - just a few feet from me. She has a whole house and a large enclosed yard and she has marked it all well. I think I said, she is just like having a problem child that you dearly love.

We have a female and a male, both 7 years old now. We have had other males previously, but this is our first female. Our males have all been more affectionate. Our princess is a pill! She is standoffish, absolutely will NOT be picked up, will NOT sit on my lap, or my husband's lap, and is careful to remain at fingertip distance for the most part. And try to give her a pill or clip her claws, and you take your life in your hands! However, at night in bed, after we turn the light off,(and the light MUST be off!) she will come and sit on us, and purr - won't leave us alone until she gets petted to her satisfaction! Go figure... She does seem territorial. If someone comes to the door, or up on our porch, she will let out a little growl, and go running toward the door. But what's really funny is that she sort of disappears under the furniture before she actually gets there. All talk and no action!

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Originally posted by LouiseC:
We have a female and a male, both 7 years old now. We have had other males previously, but this is our first female. Our males have all been more affectionate. Our princess is a pill! She is standoffish, absolutely will NOT be picked up, will NOT sit on my lap, or my husband's lap, and is careful to remain at fingertip distance for the most part. And try to give her a pill or clip her claws, and you take your life in your hands! However, at night in bed, after we turn the light off,(and the light MUST be off!) she will come and sit on us, and purr - won't leave us alone until she gets petted to her satisfaction! Go figure... She does seem territorial. If someone comes to the door, or up on our porch, she will let out a little growl, and go running toward the door. But what's really funny is that she sort of disappears under the furniture before she actually gets there. All talk and no action!

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That's so funny. My female made it almost impossible to trim her claws, give a pill to. You would have thought she was being really abused to here her go on. My male on the other hand is so relaxed about it, he almost goes to sleep. He will even purr while I am clipping.

I've decided that I like having one of each!!! Even if they don't like each other!

Yeah, our male is really mellow too. The most he ever does when he is displeased about something is let out a little peep. But then, he doesn't have a very loud voice anyway. The princess, on the other hand, is like yours - screeches like she is being tortured if we have to pick her up for anything. In the summer when the windows are open, I worry someone will report us for cat abuse! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/redface.gif We definitely have to put her in a carrier to go to the vet. We never even had a cat carrier before we got her. We could always just carry our males in our arms or have them on a leash. And when we put her in the carrier, she really gets upset. Fortunately, her health is excellent, so she only goes to the vet once a year - in January when the windows are closed, thank goodness!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

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Originally posted by yorkster:
That's so funny. My female made it almost impossible to trim her claws, give a pill to. You would have thought she was being really abused to here her go on. My male on the other hand is so relaxed about it, he almost goes to sleep. He will even purr while I am clipping.

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We love both of ours too. They get along quite well. I especially like to see them curled up together sleeping. They also usually will share toys, and sort of alternate playing with something. Once in a while, the male will exert his dominance over her, but he's much too lazy to do that very often. She is more playful,he's kind of lazy about playing too, which can be funny. She is so cute, and also extremely fastidious, whereas he is a bit of a kitty slob.

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Originally posted by Logan:
I've decided that I like having one of each!!! Even if they don't like each other!

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Speaking of perching, the cabinet over the fridge is empty because it's useless to me being that I'm under 5'2" so it has always been a place the cats could go to get away if they wanted to. The only thing is, now Peaches has also started getting into the cabinet that holds the glass ware. This morning, she was on the top shelf where I keep the crystal. I couldn't reach her to get her down and was afraid she would knock one of my pieces down, especially since she was proceding to "love" on it as she looked down at me. What to do? I went and got the catnip! That brought her down in a hurry! Five minutes later I had four stoned cats mellowing in the living room, eyes all glazed over!

Our old-fashioned cupboards have mechanical latches, not magnets. But once our cats got into the cupboard during the day while we were gone, and I came home to find my GRAVY BOAT on the hard oak floor of the pantry. No, it wasn't broken, not even chipped, even though it was a three foot fall out of the cupboard, and the gravy boat has a big, loopy handle! I have never figured out how they did that, unless one pushed it out on top of the other one!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif Great idea with the catnip!

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Originally posted by 4 feline house:
Speaking of perching, the cabinet over the fridge is empty because it's useless to me being that I'm under 5'2" so it has always been a place the cats could go to get away if they wanted to. The only thing is, now Peaches has also started getting into the cabinet that holds the glass ware. This morning, she was on the top shelf where I keep the crystal. I couldn't reach her to get her down and was afraid she would knock one of my pieces down, especially since she was proceding to "love" on it as she looked down at me. What to do? I went and got the catnip! That brought her down in a hurry! Five minutes later I had four stoned cats mellowing in the living room, eyes all glazed over!

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Hi,
The only cat I've experienced is a male cat, Boogie. He is a sweet kitty. I don't know about girl cats though, but I'd like one. Is yours "fixed"? http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/confused.gif I also have another user name, Smare.
Thanks,
Meow101

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In a cats eye, they are the ruler
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I have an Orange Male Boo-Bo and a Grey and White Egyptian Mau Female, Julie. The Male is definately more affectionate and outgoing. He is very attached to me, followes me everywhere, is very vocal if I talk to him he answers me all the time. Sleeps with me, climbs up on me to lick my nose and stroke my face with his paws. He climbs my leg wanting to be picked up. I couldn't ask for a more devoted friend. My female is affectionate when she feels like it, she too asks me for love but not quite as often as Boo-Bo. They both have different personalities and habits. The wrestle with each other and seem to share their territories. I also have an outside Female Norwegian Forest Cat, Windy who adopted us about 3 years ago. She comes in and out all day long and gets along with everyone. Very independent likes to eat and sleep asks for love once and a while, she just likes to be connected and know that you love her and that you are there for her. My little Rat Terrier Alfie tolerates the cats and plays well with Boo-Bo and Julie. Windy doesn't play with the cats or the dog. I love them all.....

4 Feline House......So glad to read your post today! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif One day I was trying to hem a pair of slacks. You know how kitties love thread and string. Well, after trying and trying to sew these slacks with Andy's "help" I decided to go out to my flowerbed where I grow my catnip and bring some inside. After 30 seconds with the catnip, Andy could have cared less about the thread! I had been feeling a little guilty about that up til now! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif