What cats Are Better male or female?
How to Choose a New Cat or Kitten
In the US, we have 69 million pet cats. Is there a perfect cat out there for you?
The key is to select a cat or kitten that will adapt well to your environment. Take into account whether you are single, have a family with children, a multi-cat household, or a house with both cats and other animals. Cats are well known for having “personalities.” Aside from temperament, there are also differences in size, body types, and hair lengths that should be factors in your decision. Researching breeds and learning about gender differences can help you make your choice.
Choosing a breed
The hobby of breeding and showing cats is called «Cat Fancy.» The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), which may be thought of as the cat equivalent of the American Kennel Club for dogs, officially recognize 45 breeds of cats. Whether or not you choose a purebred or mixed breed cat, the following characteristics, which are typified in breeds, can help you to zero in on the perfect pet for you. Think about these traits and refer to the CFA site for breed(s).
- Size:Full-grown cats can range in weight from 4 to over 20 pounds depending on the breed and sex.
- Coat length:Coat lengths for cats are typically described as short, medium and long. There are also hairless breeds – the Sphynx is one. Most cat breeds are short-haired. Outside of aesthetics, hairlength should be a major consideration as many long-haired cats require daily grooming.
- Body type:Body types are broken down into two categories: cobby and foreign. A Cobby body type is characterized by short legs and a broad chest (think American Shorthair) whereas a foreign body cat is slim and svelte in appearance (like a Siamese). Not every cat type is easily categorized, so the word “semi” is used to imply a tendency toward one body type or another.
- Coat colors and patterns: Coat patterns and colors are the primary drivers of a cat’s appearance. The fur can be tipped, shaded or banded. Colors range from black to white, from blue to orange. CFA color descriptions may be quite different from what you envision. For example, “Blue” is actually a “medium grey” and “Seal” is a dark brown. Patterns range from solid to mixtures. Calicos have clearly defined bright patches of color. Tabbys are typically stripped or spotted, and have a “wild type” look.
- Activity level:A very important consideration in choosing your next feline family member is activity level — different breeds will have different activity levels. If you have children or are looking for a “lap cat” then a breed known for a quiet demeanor is for you (look for American Shorthairs or Persians). If you prefer an active, playful cat then an Abyssinian might be in your future. If you are adopting a cat from a shelter, ask about temperament and activity level so that you will have a great match for your household.
Choosing a gender
Each gender has pros and cons associated with it.
- Male cats tend to be much larger than females.
- Males, or toms, can be friendlier than females.
- Intact male cats «spray» to mark their territory and “howl” for females (this is usually not a problem if you get him neutered).
- Female cats tend to be more reserved than males but are far less likely to spray.
- Females tend to howl when they go into heat and can become pregnant before their first year – talk to your vet about getting your female spayed.
Other considerations
- Kittens should not be separated from their mothers until they are 10-12 weeks old. By this time, they will be weaned, will have been taught some useful skills by their mother (not the least of which is how to use the litter box), and have had some good socialization.
- Make sure your cat has been vaccinated before you take them home.
- Make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately for a wellness check.
- Before you bring your new cat home, “cat proof” your house by moving breakable or dangerous objects to an inaccessible area.
These are just a few points to assist you in your choice, but there’s plenty more to cover. Do your new feline friend a favor and learn as much as you can.
Male Vs Female Maine Coon
Have you ever wondered how much the gender of a cat can affect both its physical and personality traits? If you have, then you might also be interested in comparing the male vs female Maine Coon cat breed to determine which gender is better suited to your family and lifestyle. Male Maine Coons are physically larger than female Maine Coon. The male’s personality is usually larger, though they can exhibit more needy behavioral traits than female Maine Coons whom many consider being more aloof and cat-like. Female Maine Coons require less human attention than males. Both Maine Coon genders are sociable and affectionate. Is one Maine Coon gender better than the other? Keep reading to find out! Maine Coons are known for their affectionate, loyal, playful characteristics. Their gentle nature and laid-back temperament also make them ideal family pets, especially for families with young children. But when it comes to picking a gender, are you 100% clued up on the key character and behavioral differences between male and female Coons? If not, take a look at our male vs female Maine Coon comparison table below, to determine which gender is most compatible with you.
Male Vs Female Maine Coon Cat
Have you researched every cat breed in existence, and determined that the beautiful natured Maine Coon cat is most suited to your own personal situation? If this sounds like you, all you need to do now is select a gender. However, selecting the right gender isn’t as simple as it might first seem… Buying a cat isn’t just for Christmas, instead, the average Maine Coon lifespan actually ranges between 12-15 years. Therefore, not considering the gender differences carefully before making a purchase, is foolhardy. Take a look at the table below, to identify the 15 main differences between male vs female Maine Coon cats:
8. Diet
Maine Coons are well known for growing very slowly, not reaching their full size until between 3-4 years of age. By comparison, a standard cat will reach their full physical size by 2 years of age. In order to ensure your Maine Coon is getting the correct nutritional balance, suited to this slow growth rate, it is important that Maine Coon cats are only fed high-quality dry foods, rich in protein. Owners must ensure their Maine Coons food is packed full of protein. In fact, if protein isn’t the first thing to be listed on the ingredients list, don’t buy it. A Maine Coons dry food must also be low in carbohydrates, with plenty of fat and fatty acids, such as omega 3 and 6. These are my favorite Maine Coon dry cat foods. Wet food portions offer variety in a cat’s diet, but should be used sparingly since they contain a high moisture content. Although wet food offers a good source of moisture for Maine Coons that do not drink enough water, too much moisture can result in dental health damage. Therefore owners should limit wet food portions, to no more than 2-3 times per week. In regards to male vs female Maine Coon, there really isn’t a great deal of difference when it comes to the diet you feed them. Except for the fact that the male of the species is likely to eat slightly more food than a female Maine Coon, because they tend to be larger.
9. Lifespan
When we compare the male vs female Maine Coon lifespan, it is evident that both genders are likely to live between 12-15 years. It is not thought that gender affects a Maine Coons expected lifespan.
10. Maine Coon Price
Maine Coons are well known for being an extremely pricey cat breed. Therefore, if you are intending to buy this pedigree breed you should be prepared to pay an average of $1000 (£811) per purebred kitten. In general, the cost of a purebred kitten will increase when its quality and pedigree status improve. Those individuals interested in breeding Maine Coons will likely have to pay up to $2000 (£1600) per kitten, and anywhere up to $2500 (£1934) for a Maine Coon show kitten. From my detailed analysis, I have not found the male Maine Coon to cost any more than the female Maine Coon. What I did notice, however, is that cats that have not been neutered, or spayed, always cost more. Although this might seem illogical, it actually isn’t, because non neutered, or non-spayed kittens are far harder to look after. For example, a non neutered will likely cause more damage to a breeder’s home, by spraying the breeders their favorite sofa with a scent that just cannot be removed! Nice!
11. Health Issues
- Obesity
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- Hip Dysplasia
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Whilst obesity can be avoided via human intervention, this is not the case when it comes to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Instead, owners with male Maine Coon cats should keep an eye out for symptoms of HCM, since this form of heart disease is more prone in male Coons, than females.
Both male and females Maine Coon cats are prone to developing hip dysplasia since this health issue is common in large cats.
However, the male of the species appears to be less lucky once again, since they are more susceptible to developing hip dysplasia than their female Maine Coon counterparts.
12. Bonding
One common trait of the Maine Coon cat breed relates to their bonding abilities.
If you take a look at the male vs female Maine Coon cats in action, it is quickly evident that male Maine Coons prefer to bond mainly with one owner.
By contrast, the female Maine Coon is calmer and more accepting of the entire family.
13. Playtime
If you are looking for a fun cat to bond with, buy a male Maine Coon.
That’s not to say female Maine Coons are less enjoyable in general.
The difference simply relies on the fact that the female Coon prefers playtime and types on their terms!
14. Space
For individuals living in smaller homes, or apartments, consideration should be given to the amount of realistic space available for housing a Maine Coon, and their toys.
Whilst both genders may start off small, once fully grown (between 3-5 years of age) they are both considered very large cats, so will require quite a bit of space.
The male Maine Coon grows into an immensely large cat, requiring quite a lot of daily physical stimulation.
Think carefully about the space you have available, to house a male Maine Coons toy collection!
15. Stubborn
When you research the difference between male vs female Maine Coon cats, it is clear that the male of the species has a reputation for being a touch stubborn!
Therefore, if you are keen to purchase a male Maine Coon, make sure you teach them all the house rules whilst they are still young. Males become harder to train, as their mature.
By contrast, females are considered very easygoing and laid back, so respond better to being taught new rules late in life, than their male counterparts.
Conclusion
As you will have seen there are many different things to consider when choosing between a male vs female Maine Coon.
Ultimately though, it all comes down to an individual’s personal preference, and the type of cat you are ideally looking to own.
What is safe to say, however, is that neither gender is better than the other.
Instead, each gender definitely has its own unique pros and cons which you will need to weigh up and consider seriously.
In the end, though, both genders are highly intelligent little beings, that will grow into an extra large-sized cat, with loving and affectionate personalities to match.
I personally opted for a male Maine Coon, since I love energetic pets, with big personalities.
Our male Maine Coon definitely doesn’t disappoint us in terms of having an amazing personality.
In fact, he was better than I could ever have imagined since he enjoys playing with the entire family, can be amazingly fun to be around, and enjoys loads of cuddles.
Most importantly, he’s never lashed out or tried to attack our young children.
Instead, in the face of adversity, our Maine Coon has always been very tolerant, and understanding of our young children’s immensely loud noises!
Hello! My name is Katrina Stewardson, and I’m a CRAZY CAT LADY! I’ve been in love with the Maine Coon cat breed ever since we welcomed an adorable male Maine Coon kitten into our home 10 years ago. We called him ‘Pippin’, but he also goes by the name ‘Pipsteroo’! Our enormous, kind-hearted cat genuinely thinks he’s a dog and has convinced me that cats are Man’s True Best Friend! UPDATE: We recently adopted two 4-year-old male Maine Coon cats. They are named Mika and Bali.
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About Me
Hello! My name is Katrina Stewardson, and I’m a self-confessed CRAZY CAT LADY! I’ve been in love with the Maine Coon cat breed ever since we welcomed an adorable male Maine Coon kitten into our home 10 years ago. We called him ‘Pippin’, but he also goes by the name ‘Pipsteroo’! Our enormous, kind-hearted cat genuinely thinks he’s a dog and has convinced me that cats are Man’s True Best Friend! In Dec 22 we adopted TWO more Maine Coon cats, named Bali and Mika — they are 4 years old. Sadly, Pippin died from poor health 4 months later. We greatly miss him.
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