Mary Allen
Differences in the genitals of male and female kittens are less clear than in adult cats. Even vets can be wrong when trying to identify the gender of kittens. In the following, we will tell you how to find out whether your kittens are boys or girls.
Identifying the Gender of Kittens: the Environment Under Investigation
If you want to recognize the gender of kittens, you should first ensure that the framework conditions are right for sensitive little kittens. First of all, make sure that the young kitten whose genital tract you want to inspect is in a warm and safe environment.
Small kittens, in particular, are very sensitive to cold. Therefore, they are dependent on the warmth of their mother in the early days. And that your human roommate takes care of a warm environment for his kittens. Make sure to examine the genital area of your mini-kitty in a well-tempered area of your house or apartment.
How Long Can I Separate a Kitten From Its Mother?
Never separate the kitten from its mother for more than five to ten minutes at the most. Otherwise, you could endanger the little kitten’s physical health and mental stability. Now lift the tail of the putty slightly. The kitten may react a little strangely because it doesn’t like being touched by the tail anyway. And especially not if it is used to identify the sex of the kitten.
This is How You Should Proceed During the Examination:
- However, if you rub your little roommate kitty lightly by the base of the tail, the chances are good that she will lift it up on her own, revealing her genital area.
- If you want to identify the sex of kittens, you should proceed with the utmost caution and sensitivity. In preparation, it is recommended that you caress your mini kitty lovingly and persuade her soothingly.
- Then bed the kitten on a soft towel or similar soft, warm surface that is comfortable for the kitten.
- If your little kitten is very reluctant, you should put it back with its mother and try again at a later time if necessary.
Identifying the Gender of Kittens: Shape of the Genitals of Both Females and Males
When the little kitten shows you its genital tract, you will see two openings one on top of the other. The upper opening is the anus or anus and the lower opening is the genitals.
If you take a closer look at the shape of the lower opening, it is either a small vertical slit or a tiny hole. The former could also be seen as a small “i” and the latter as a kind of colon (“:”). Young kittens with an “i” shaped genitalia are female. Those whose genitals show up as a colon (“:”) are male.
If the difference is not so obvious, there is another indicator that can provide information about the sex of the kitten: in males, the distance between the anus and the opening of the penis is greater than in females, the distance between the anus and vulva.
If you can make out some kind of bump or pouch, it is in all likelihood the scrotum and thus a male. Under certain circumstances, however, the testicles are not yet visible at this age because they have often retreated into the inguinal canal and are therefore not easily recognizable from the outside.
What Does Coat Color Have to Do With Gender?
But completely different aspects can also provide clues as to the gender of your little kittens. For example, the color of the coat can be different depending on the sexes.
A tortoiseshell pattern, which is characterized by red and black areas of fur, is almost exclusively found in female cats. It arises in an X-linked codominant inheritance. Both the allele for the red and the black coat color are each on an X chromosome.
Since females have two X chromosomes while males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, males usually cannot have these two colors. Except in the case of a rare genetic defect. Red tomcats, on the other hand, are, with very few exceptions, male due to their genetic makeup.
Whether boy or girl, red or gray mackerel, black and white spotted, tortoiseshell, or whatever color: We definitely wish you a lot of joy in living with your beloved kittens.