How to Determine the Sex of a Kitten

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By T. J. Dunn, Jr., DVM

Now that you are about to pick out a kitten from the shelter you will surely want to know what sex it is. I have seen many tiny kittens with names such as Tommy or Rex or Brutus who actually were female! You should see the look on the faces of the kitty's owners when I have to tell them the truth. Misty, Sheba and Twinkle were actually male kitties, too, and most of the time as soon as the owners found out the true sex of their pal, they changed it's name immediately!

It can be difficult to determine the sex of cats, especially if there is no other kitten with which to compare the anatomy. In most litters there will be both male and female kittens and sex determination is easy. Take a look at the photos below and it will make determining the sex of a kitten much easier. Then choosing a name will be easier, too!

Male or Female Kitten?

In female kittens, the urinary orifice and anus are close together.	Contrasting both sexes can be helpful. The space between the anus and urinary tract opening in the male is greater than in the female.	In male kittens the urinary orifice and anus are not close together and an undeveloped scrotum may be visible.