Barbara Read, Author at Cat Beep

Some cat owners hold that their male cats are friendlier and more physically affectionate than their female cats. Others insist that it's the males who are aloof or aggressive, while the females are cuddle-bugs. In fact, gender is just one factor in a cat's personality. What's more important is the degree of socialization the cat received as a kitten, along with other factors such as past experiences with people and the age when the cat was spayed or neutered. Are male cats more affectionate? Some male cats are very friendly and some female cats are very aloof; even so, it's impossible to predict whether or not a cat will be loving and friendly based on gender alone. If you've discovered this page, you're probably considering a new cat and want to make sure that your pet will be a suitable companion. You have a number of questions, such as whether the sex of the cat makes them more friendly. Is a male cat really more loving than a female cat? What factors determine a cat's level of affection? How can you make sure that your cat is friendly and sociable? Keep reading to learn more about the feline personality and how to make sure you choose the right cat for you. Are male cats more affectionate? Many cat owners have a very strong opinion on this. Some will insist that male cats, being more adventurous and confident, are naturally more social than their shyer sisters. They will insist that their boy cats are the lap-kitties of the household while the females prefer to keep a cautious distance. On the other hand, you will also meet cat owners who insist that female cats make for the most cuddlesome and doting pets, while boy kitties are more aloof and apt to scratch or bite. It's unclear how the stereotype of the ice-queen female cat got started but I suspect it had something to do with the way cats were cared for in the past -- or rather not cared for. In the bad old days, when cats weren't routinely spayed and neutered as they are now. Female cats had to cope with bouts of seasonal oestrus (heat) which would naturally make them anxious to leave the house and find a mate. Once pregnant, they would soon have kittens to protect. A mother cat might reasonably decide that the humans in the household represented a threat to her new babies and become highly distrustful. Unburdened by the blessings of motherhood, the household tom might remain on more cordial terms. On the other hand, those who insist that girl cats are more affectionate may be influenced by encounters with entire toms. The effect of testosterone on a tom-cat's personality can be quite dramatic, taking him from a sweet and playful kitten to a spraying, furniture-clawing, fight-initiating bully. Nowadays, thankfully, most kittens are spayed or neutered as a matter of course. Female cats aren't forced to endure bouts of heat or litter after litter of kittens, while male cats are spared the burden of feline puberty with its attendant aggression and territorial displays. While there's certainly plenty of anecdotes to support either position, there's little evidence that male cats are really more affectionate or vice versa. How can I choose an affectionate cat? If selecting by gender isn't helpful in finding an affectionate pet, how can you make sure that the cat you choose has the right temperament for you? The first step is to make sure you acquire your new companion from an ethical and responsible breeder or shelter. A good breeder will ensure that a kitten or cat you buy from them has had the very best start in life. While a rescue kitty is a bit more of an unknown quantity, a well-run shelter will help you to find a cat who's a good fit for your household. When buying a kitten, you should first ensure that your breeder is registered with any voluntary organizations in your region that oversee catteries. Ideally, you should be able to visit the cattery before you buy and see the kittens and their mother. The cattery should be clean and tidy; the cat and kittens should be healthy and happy. None of the animals should be dirty or show signs of ill-health. The kittens themselves should be lively, curious and unafraid of humans. A kitten who will make a good pet will be happy to play with you a little -- try tempting the kitten you're interested in with a teaser toy or a slip of ribbon. Kittens must not be taken away from their mother too early. They should be allowed to interact with humans in a safe and secure environment, supported by the mother cat. If the kittens are removed from the mother before twelve or fourteen weeks old they can suffer from separation anxiety and may struggle to establish an emotional bond with their caretakers. The exception would be hand-reared kittens, which are often very attached to humans; however, hand-rearing an unweaned baby kitten is an extremely high-risk process which is best left to a trained professional. When adopting a cat from a shelter, you will probably be taking on a mature animal rather than a young and impressionable kitten. Rescue kitties sometimes come from good homes -- they've simply been parted from a caring owner by illness, misfortune or death. In other cases, sadly, a rescue cat may have survived significant abuse and cruelty, making them less likely to feel a connection to humans. Sometimes they can recover with patient and loving care, but there are cats who will never quite be "pets" in the usual sense. While caring for a troubled animal can be deeply rewarding, it can be taxing and challenging. A responsible shelter will try to match you with a cat who has the kind of temperament you're looking for. How can I make sure my kittens stay affectionate as they get older? One complaint I hear a lot from cat owners is: "My cat was so friendly when he was a kitten. Now he's grown up, I can't go near him!" The answer is frequently that the owner has waited too long to have the cat de-sexed. Regardless of whether your kitten is a boy or a girl, if you want an affectionate adult cat you need to make sure that your kitten is de-sexed at an early enough age. Spaying or neutering can't guarantee an affectionate nature but de-sexing can go a long way towards maintaining a cuddly and people-friendly nature. A good breeder will have their kittens spayed or neutered before sending them to you. If you didn't get your kitten from a reputable breeder, you should arrange to have the animal de-sexed as soon as you can. Another common problem is that the cat has had limited or negative interactions with humans during their early years. If the kittens were neglected by an unethical breeder or abused by a cruel owner, they can grow up to be very skittish adults. The right home can undo some of this damage but the cat is unlikely to be as affectionate or social as a kitten from a good background. If you bought your cat from a kitten mill, or from a private owner who was negligent enough to let their queen cat become pregnant, the kitten may have had experiences that make them reluctant to get too close to humans. You must also make sure that kittens feel safe when you bring them home. Supervise any interactions with family members, especially children, to ensure that the cat is well treated. Don't be grabby or over-eager with kittens or cats; let them come to you and be alert for signs that they're uncomfortable with anything you're doing. Don't allow anyone to manhandle the kittens, chase them or shout at them. Other causes of anti-social feline behavior As well as poor socialization or bad experiences with humans, a cat may also become less sociable for other reasons. Pain or injury is one. A cat who normally enjoys being cuddled and petted may be reluctant to have you touch them if they're in pain. Check your cat over for signs of injury or swelling, especially if the cat is moving awkwardly or limping. Take your cat to the vet if you see symptoms like these; you don't want to leave an injured animal in pain and some injuries can become worse if you don't intervene. Sickness is another reason your cat might become less affectionate and social. It's not uncommon for a cat who feels unwell to seek out a quiet spot which feels safe, rather than going to a human for help. Pay attention to things like a decreased appetite, bathroom accidents (or conversely reduced the output of urine or feces) or vomiting. A sick cat may vocalize more than usual and may act out by scratching or spraying. If you suspect that your cat is sick, be sure to consult a vet. Many conditions resolve on their own but others require medical treatment. Your cat might need a course of antibiotics or some other medicine to return to his normal, cuddly self.