Boy or girl kitten, which should you choose?

Discover the differences between male and female kittens, and how to choose the right one for you.


Boy or girl kitten which to choose

One of the most common questions we are asked by prospective kitten parents is whether to choose a boy or girl kitten.

The question is most often asked when people either already have a cat or kitten at home, or when they want more than one kitten and want to know how they are likely to get on with each other.

So which should you choose: boy or girl kitten?

boy or girl kitten aristocats

There do tend to be some differences in personality between male and female British Shorthair cats. These differences are only general, and whilst they may apply in most cases, they will not hold true in all cases. Here are some tips to help you choose between a boy or girl kitten.

Male British Shorthair traits

  • In general neutered male British Shorthairs are considered to be a bit more easy going. They are not fussy about whose company they have, and tend to show just as much affection to all humans in their household.

  • Of course, this is only if they are neutered before they reach sexual maturity, when their hormones kick in and can cause some changes that might be irreversible. Read more about when to neuter your male cat.

  • Male cats are larger than females

  • Male cats are generally chunkier than females, but not always

Female British Shorthair traits

  • Females, on the other hand, can be a bit more fussy. They are more likely to select one human in the household who becomes their favourite, and develop a strong preference towards that one person.

  • Females can have more individual, quirky personalities

  • Females are smaller

  • Females tend to be a bit neater and tidier!

More than one cat?

If you already have a cat at home and are looking to introduce another one, then you may wonder whether your existing cat might take better to a male or female kitten. In our experience, as long as you introduce your new kitten to your existing cat in the right way, then there shouldn't be any problems, and the sex of the new kitten shouldn't make a difference. Discover how to introduce a new kitten the right way.

Advice from your breeder

A good breeder should always be happy to answer sensible questions, so discuss it with the breeder you choose. They should be able to help you select a kitten that is likely to have a laid-back personality, or any other trait that you would like. Kittens’ personalities often take after their parents’, so a good breeder who knows their cats well should be able to help you choose the most suitable parents for your kitten. If the parents' have had previous litters, then this will also give the breeder an insight into the likely personality of the kittens.

A very good breeder will also go to extra lengths to socialise your kitten and help you select a kitten from the litter with a suitable temperament, as they should know their kittens very well. We are always happy to help with this, and, whilst there are no guarantees that a kitten's personality will remain the same into adulthood, we find that this is true more often than not. 

Conclusions...

Try not to get too decided on whether you would like a male or female kitten before you see the litter you are interested in. Overall, it is not a hugely important point. It is more important to choose a good breeder who works hard to socialise their kittens and knows their cats well so they can advise you on whether a particular kitten would be a good fit for your family. Keeping a more open mind allows your kitten to choose you - and we see this happen a lot! 

Read more...

- how to introduce a new kitten the right way

- what age to neuter your male cat 

- is your cat obese and what to do about it

- the importance of litter tray hygiene

- wet cat food reviews 

- why all our kittens are GCCF registered