The breed of the cat also has a big influence on affection. What is important is how well they were socialised with humans during the first 2 months of their life, and how friendly their parents are. So, if you want an affectionate cat, the choice between male or female is not very important. Friendliness is an inherited trait in cats (9), so if their father was friendly, the kitten is likely to be friendly. This is true even if they come from a genetic line of friendly cats. If kittens are not handled and socialised with humans daily between 2 weeks and 7 weeks of age, they are unlikely to be friendly and affectionate (8). The key factor for determining whether your cat will be affectionate is handling from an early age. The results showed that sex was not a determining factor in cat personality (7). They looked at factors such as friendliness, sociability, and independence. Research into the personality types of 196 cats compared character traits between male and female cats. As a group, they care for kittens in their colonies and are likely to stay by your side when you are unwell (6). They naturally live together when resources allow (5). While males live solitary lives prowling their territories, female cats have strong and enduring maternal instincts. But, the natural behaviour of cats suggests that females are more likely to be affectionate. Popular opinion and anecdotal data (4) suggest that male cats are more affectionate and friendly. Are Male or Female Cats More Affectionate? As a result, neutered male and spayed female cats both make better pets than intact cats of either sex. They are even less likely to suffer from certain diseases. This means they won’t yowl to attract male cats to your home.Ĭats that have had gonadectomy operations are more affectionate toward humans (3). They have had their ovaries and uterus removed, so won’t go into heat. So, if they are unneutered, they will seek sexual partners constantly.įemales that have been spayed are less aggressive and less stressed than unspayed female cats (2). Intact male cats do not go into heat like female cats. They show less aggression, urinate less, and show fewer sexual behaviours (1). Neutered male cats have had their testicles removed. Intact cats still have the hormones that cause sexual characteristics and allow for reproduction. Cats without this operation are referred to as 'intact', and they behave very differently. In this article, we'll be discussing cats that have been neutered or spayed - in an operation known as a gonadectomy. Neutered Male And Spayed Female Cats Both Make Great Petsįirst, let's just define a few terms.

Orange tabby male cats