If you're thinking of adopting a cat, you're probably wondering which is better, if amale cat or a female cat This is, without a doubt, a difficult decision, since you will surely want to know which one will best suit your family and lifestyle and, therefore, if you will be able to give it the care it deserves.
For this reason, in this article on our site, we want to help you make this choice in the best possible way, explaining the reasons you should know and value when you decide to foster a cat.
How to choose which cat to adopt?
Regardless of gender, there are many other considerations to take into account before adopting a new member of the family. This is because each individual is unique and, therefore, each feline has its own personality that will adapt to a greater or lesser extent to different habits and lifestyles. The character of your future cat will be shaped by different biological and environmental factors, since genetics (breed), sex (as we will see in this article) and age, added to environmental factors such as past experiences and learning, will determine that your feline has one character or another.
The main characteristics that you should take into account when choosing between adopting a cat or a female cat are:
- Age: Generally, people prefer to adopt a puppy cat, as they are in a stage in which they adapt and learn more easily from your environment. Now, taking in an adult or elderly cat is usually a good option, especially if you don't have time to offer it a basic education, in addition to the fact that young cats are more active and usually require more attention and games. On the contrary, older cats generally have a more mature, serene and affectionate character.
- Breed: Whether your cat is pure or mixed, getting an idea of his breed will help you identify his physical needs and whether has a tendency to a specific character, for example, if it is rather active, meek, affectionate… To find out what breed your cat belongs to, this other article on The 10 most popular cat breeds in the world can help you.
- Know his background: Before adopting a cat, if it is in the care of others, such as a guardian, You should ask about his background. That is, if you have had bad past experiences, such as abuse and/or neglect. Knowing your feline's past will be key, so you will know how his socialization has been, if he has any specific fears or if his process of adapting to the new environment will be more or less difficult.
- Presence of diseases: in shelters there is usually the option of adopting cats that suffer from physical "defects" and/or pathologies, commonly FIV (feline AIDS) or leukemia. These felines have it twice as difficult to find a home because they are more delicate, but if you think you can provide the necessary care and affection, adopting one can be a good way to give a second life to cats that hardly know a family. Now, if you already have cats at home, you should consider whether you want to take the risk, since many of the most common diseases are quite contagious.
And if you're still not sure whether to adopt a cat or another animal, we encourage you to read this other article on our site about 10 reasons to adopt a cat.
Characteristics of cats
Feline behavior is partly influenced by sex. It is not strange then that you try to find out what characterizes and differentiates males from females.
As a general rule, but avoiding the mistaken belief that all cats of the same sex have the same behavior, female cats tend to be more affectionate and homelike These often seek physical contact, they want to feel safe in their trusted environment and They are usually protective with their own. This need is born from the instinct of wanting to have a nest or shelter in which to feel comfortable and protected in case of having a litter. In this sense, cats tend to tolerate less sudden changes in habits and environment, due to this need to have everything under control.
Another point to take into account is that females present heat periods, normally between spring and summer. During these stages, cats experience stress and anxiety, meow very frequently (especially at night), may spray the house with urine (not always), and they escape. This behavior is, as you may have already found out, problematic. Well, it poses a danger to your cat, a nuisance to you and your neighbors, and there is a risk that she could become pregnant, which causes the uncontrolled growth of the cat population, which, unfortunately, are not always welcomed by families that care for them. deserve and love them, often ending up mistreated and/or abandoned.
However, there is a very advisable solution to this problem, and that is the castration or sterilization of your cat. In this way you will prevent from the root the vast majority of factors that can harm your feline and you will avoid he alth problems such as the development of ovarian cysts.
Characteristics of cats
As far as male cats are concerned, they stand out for having a more independent and lively character than females. Well these, unlike the females who need to be calm at home for the possibility of being mothers, the males usually have an active sexual life in which they usually go out in search of females in heat.
This behavior is often problematic as they tend to run away and wander due to their need to explore and travel great distances outside home, therefore there is the risk of suffering an accident.
Also, males often get into conflicts with other males due to competition for territory and for females in heat, fact which implies that your cat suffers damage such as scratches and infectious bites, and the possibility of contracting diseases more easily.
For this reason, it is always best to neuter your catas soon as possible, before he develops sexual behavior of the. Since, as you have seen, it will be the safest option for your pet.
Conversely, if you think that your cat will not be able to run away from home and that for this reason you do not have to worry about neutering him, the truth is that your cat will feel anxious and irritable because he will not be able to leave the home even though their sexual behavior asks them to. This impossibility will generate a lot of stress in your feline and will make it easier for him to develop behavioral problems.
However, by neutering your cat you will make him feel calm, since he will not have this need by lowering the level of his sexual hormones, so he will develop a more character affectionate and meek and, in addition, it will surely reduce and/or eliminate the behavior of spraying the house with urine (depends on the what age do you castrate him), which usually smells quite bad and is done to mark territory, warning other cats to stay away.
Male or female cat - Which one to choose?
Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of having a male or female cat, in order to make the right decision of which sex to adopt, it is important to take into account your needs and preferences, as well as whether you will be able to satisfy the basic care of your future pet. In this way, there is no correct answer to whether a male or female cat is better, but it will depend on the type of companion you are looking for
