To sex a kitten, follow these steps to distinguish between male and female kittens by looking at their genital area:
- Gently lift the kitten's tail when the kitten is relaxed.
- Look at the distance and shape of the openings under the tail:
- Female kittens have the anus and vulva openings close together, looking like the letter "i" or a vertical slit/line. The genital opening is close to the anus with very little space between.
- Male kittens have more space between the anus and the genital opening (penis), which looks like a small circle or round dot. There may be a furry area between the anus and penis where the testicles will develop.
- In very young kittens (under 3 weeks), you can also observe the way they urinate when stimulated. Female kittens usually urinate by letting the pee flow gently around the body, while males produce a more forceful stream.
- Coat color can sometimes be a clue: orange tabbies are more likely to be males, and calico or tortoiseshell kittens are almost always females, but this is not a definitive method.
- If unsure, especially in very young kittens, ask a veterinarian for help.
In summary:
- Female = anus and genital opening close, genital opening looks like a line.
- Male = anus and genital opening spaced farther apart, genital opening looks like a circle, possibly with small testicles in between.
This method becomes easier to use when kittens are over 6 to 8 weeks old but can be attempted at younger ages with care.
If you want visual guidance, there are helpful videos and images available from cat care resources that demonstrate these differences clearly.