Are There Any Big Behavior Differences Between Male Cats & Female Cats?

RoofTopPigeon · Aug 22, 2019

Are There ANY Big Behavior Differences Between Male Cats & Female Cats?
I Ideally Would Like Answers From People who have had MANY Cats Of BOTH Genders Over the Years!

Furballsmom · Aug 22, 2019

I've had several of both genders, and I think that the personality of the cat isn't particularly dependent on whether that specific cat is a male or a female, so no, no big behavior differences unless there are kittens that need to be protected.

RoofTopPigeon · Aug 22, 2019

Thanks Furballsmom; I was wondering about that. :blush:

JamesCalifornia · Aug 22, 2019

~ I learned something about this awhile back from di and bob . See this post ...
Why are male cats more affectionate than female cats?

She's a witch · Aug 22, 2019

I don’t think the personality depends on the gender, but I noticed some behavior differences when it comes to interacting with other cats. I think male cats play rougher, and female cats are quicker to hiss/growl during play (eg. I’ve never heard my current boy hissing on my girl, and she’s doing it often, even if- objectively speaking- she has little reason to). But maybe it’s connected to the fact that male are usually bigger, after all..

ArchyCat · Aug 22, 2019

I have had both genders also. Both have been affectionate. But one female I had, I adopted after she had a litter kittens. Half Abyssinian. She was the most affectionate cat I have ever had. Half the time she treated me as if I were her kitten. The other half as if she was my kitten. So there might be a difference for females who have been mom cats. Anyone else with this experience?

jen · Aug 22, 2019

IMO it is 100% dependent on the individual cat, its personality, environment, and how it was raised. I have had so very many male and female cats, neutered or not and at various times in their lives, different ages and I can honestly say I see absolutely no pattern whatsoever in their affection towards me.

ArtNJ · Aug 23, 2019

If you internet search it, there is no clear agreement on any differences in spayed/neutered cats. That said, I know there are people on here (and elsewhere) that have had tons of cats over tons of years that have strong beliefs that there are certain differences.

If you are writing a scientific paper, dive into this. If you are adopting a cat that you plan to spay/neuter, your learning time would be better spent elsewhere. Any differences that do exist are just much less important than the normal wide variation between individual cats of either gender. Spending extra minutes with the cat or grilling the shelter/breeder more closely is not entirely predictive of how the cat will act in your house, but likely more valuable than the cats gender.

Willowy · Aug 23, 2019

I have a lot of cats. So I can observe general differences. Most differences are due to individual personality. If someone is trying to make a decision, don't base it on sex, but on the cat's personality. Also, it's hard to separate one's own cultural conditioning from objective facts. So it might all be confirmation bias. And of course this all applies to spayed/neutered indoor pet cats, I make no claims regarding intact cats or outdoor cats.

My observation is that females are usually smarter and "sharper". They pay more attention to their surroundings and are faster to react to real or perceived dangers. More cautious and dignified and less demonstrative. Males are usually goofier and not as observant, more willing to do silly things to get attention, more likely to fall off the cat tree while playing, more likely to jump without looking. It's not that males are more affectionate on average, just that they're more likely to fawn all over you like a dog.

That makes sense when you think about, because under wild/feral conditions, a female has to be sharp and suspicious to support and protect herself and her kittens, but a tom only has to worry about himself out there.

But of course those are just generalities and not indicative of any individual cat's personality.

RoofTopPigeon · Aug 23, 2019

Willowy said:
I have a lot of cats. So I can observe general differences. Most differences are due to individual personality. If someone is trying to make a decision, don't base it on sex, but on the cat's personality. Also, it's hard to separate one's own cultural conditioning from objective facts. So it might all be confirmation bias. And of course this all applies to spayed/neutered indoor pet cats, I make no claims regarding intact cats or outdoor cats.

My observation is that females are usually smarter and "sharper". They pay more attention to their surroundings and are faster to react to real or perceived dangers. More cautious and dignified and less demonstrative. Males are usually goofier and not as observant, more willing to do silly things to get attention, more likely to fall off the cat tree while playing, more likely to jump without looking. It's not that males are more affectionate on average, just that they're more likely to fawn all over you like a dog.

That makes sense when you think about, because under wild/feral conditions, a female has to be sharp and suspicious to support and protect herself and her kittens, but a tom only has to worry about himself out there.

But of course those are just generalities and not indicative of any individual cat's personality.

Thanks A Bunch; Willowy!

Furballsmom · Aug 23, 2019

Lol, my Big Guy is cautious and dignified, except for the time I caught this 14 year old cat with the exact look of a two month old kitten on his face :lol:

JamesCalifornia · Aug 23, 2019

Willowy said:
My observation is that females are usually smarter and "sharper". They pay more attention to their surroundings and are faster to react to real or perceived dangers. More cautious and dignified and less demonstrative. Males are usually goofier and not as observant, more willing to do silly things to get attention

`

~ Much like people !

danteshuman · Aug 23, 2019

Big difference between m fixed or f fixed cats? No.

In my experience spayed female cats have had a bit more attitude then neutered male cats. Also in general the boys seem more welcoming of newcomers ....... though there are always exceptions or personality clashes. Out of the three kittens, maybe Cami appears to have more attitude because her hyper brothers are always hugging her? (A personality/ temperament clash.)

RoofTopPigeon · Aug 24, 2019

Do Male Cats (or) Female Cats tend to be more Vocal?

She's a witch · Aug 24, 2019

RoofTopPigeon said:
Do Male Cats (or) Female Cats tend to be more Vocal?

No, in my opinion it’s breed characteristic and learned “skill”. I had one very silent cat, then I got one very vocal one. Now I have two vocal cats

Furballsmom · Aug 24, 2019

Hmmm, if you eliminate when an unspayed female is in heat and vocal about that, I don't think it's gender specific. Most of the cats I've known have been/are talkers although a couple females were not at all.

danteshuman · Aug 24, 2019

Feral cats are quiet. Semi-feral meow a little. Socailized cats are vocal because they have learned to train their humans!!!

That said some breeds are more chatty (siamese) then others. IMO you can never go wrong with a mixed breed/mongie/mutt and bottle babies are the best!!!

Furballsmom · Aug 24, 2019

Oh, and as danteshuman is mentioning regarding bottlebabies, my boy who is 14 now wasn't very meowy, but we have always talked to him and he's has become really vocal over time, from a yell when he wants his supervised time in the backyard and it's too early and dark, to a wonderful purry meow when he's happy

RoofTopPigeon · Aug 26, 2019

Willowy said:
Males are usually goofier and not as observant, more willing to do silly things to get attention, more likely to fall off the cat tree while playing, more likely to jump without looking. It's not that males are more affectionate on average, just that they're more likely to fawn all over you like a Dog; That makes sense when you think about, because under wild/feral conditions, a female has to be sharp and suspicious to support and protect herself and her kittens, but A Tom only has to worry about himself out there. But of course those are just generalities and not indicative of any individual cat's personality.

So Willowy Would you say An Male Cat would probably take quicker to harness training?

Willowy · Aug 27, 2019

Not necessarily. That is very dependent on the cat's individual personality. Some cats just flop when you put a harness on them, and some are raring to go.

Are There Any Big Behavior Differences Between Male Cats & Female Cats?

TCS Member

Thread starter

Cat Devotee

TCS Member

Thread starter

Mr.Mom to a house of cats 😇😼

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

Cat Devotee

Mr.Mom to a house of cats 😇😼

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Cat Devotee

TCS Member

Cat Devotee

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member