Researchers have found that there is no real difference in affection when it comes to male and female cats. However, if you are the owner of one or more cats, you might be wondering if there are any differences in their characters. Or perhaps you want to buy a (new) cat that is very affectionate.
In both cases this article will be very helpful, as we will lay out what contributes to your cat being affectionate and if this has something to do with their gender. So, have you ever asked yourself the question of male cats being more affectionate than female cats? If the answer is yes, please read this article below.
The role of gender in affection
The general conception of cats is that females tend to be a bit bossier, whereas male cats tend to be more relaxed. This also makes many people think that male cats are more likely to show affection. However, this is deemed as a myth. According to many researchers the amount of affection your cat shows has more to do with their character and breed instead. However, whenever your cat is spayed or neutered this can have an effect on the amount of affection your cat will show you.
Generally, if a cat is neutered or spayed they tend to become calmer. This in turn can help with them becoming more affectionate and having more attention for their owners. Whereas if a cat is not, they might be more on themselves and like to have their space. So, if you have a female cat that is spayed and a male cat that is not neutered, this will most likely cause a difference in affection towards you.
Again, also the breed of your cat will contribute to the amount of affection they will have towards you. For example, a male Maine Coon, British Shorthair and Siamese cat are generally more affectionate than females. This however is not always the case. There are other factors that may contribute to how affectionate your cat is or will be, which we will talk about in the next section.
Other important factors that contribute to how affectionate your cat is
There are various other factors that can contribute on how affectionate your cat is. Things that matter are:
- The environment in which your cat is growing up. If your cat will be home alone a lot, they will not grow attached to you as much as a cat that is less alone. A cat will simply be more on their own if they are used to this. Rather, if you spend more time at home, cats will show more interest in you and also be more affectionate towards you. Of course, it also matters whether or not your cat might come from abusive circumstances. In those cases, a cat will need time to gain trust in the owners. Once they feel comfortable and you take the time to provide attention, a cat could very well become more and more affectionate.
- If your cat is mostly indoors or outside. Once your cat is outside a lot, they become largely independent. Rather, being in a homey environment also makes your cat more comfortable with showing attention. In that case, you are also basically socializing your cat to you and your home, rather than leaving them on their own outside.
- Whether or not you play with your cat. Through playing with your cat you can create a bond between the two of you. Once they realize you are spending time with them, they will also want to spend time with you. So, they might crawl up against you if you take a seat on the couch, after you have played a bit with your cat. Playing with your cat also makes them aware that you are no danger to them and you are just simply there to entertain them. Once they realize that you will not take their toy, or ‘prey’, they will want to play more with you. This also encourages the bond between you two, which again leads to more affection coming your way.
- The room or space you keep your cat in. If your cat is mostly in a room or space they feel comfortable in, they will become calmer and more affectionate towards the owners. This has to do with the fact that they grow attached to places they have good memories with, while also becoming anxious of spaces that they are uncomfortable with. It is known that once a cat feels comfortable with the space that he or she is living in, they will also become more affectionate.
No difference between female and male cats when it comes to affection?
To sum up, there is indeed no difference between female and male cats when it comes to affection. However, the breed and whether or not your cat is spayed or neutered may cause differences in their behaviour. Generally, cats that are spayed and neutered are calmer and therefore more affectionate to their owners.
However, breed and being spayed/neutered are not the only things that can contribute to your cat having more affection. Other factors that should be considered are the environment in which your cat is growing up; whether or not your cat spends most time in- outside; if you spend time playing with your cat; and, if you keep your cat in a space that they feel comfortable in. All these factors play a role in the bond and attachment your cat will have towards you. In general, the more time you spend at home, playing with them and creating a safe space for your cat, the more affectionate they will be.
Now that you have read all about the difference between male and female cats and their affection, we want to know more about your experiences with cats. Do you have a cat, and is he or she affectionate? Or do you have experience with male and female cats that are different in the amount of affection they show towards you? We can’t wait to hear all about! So, please leave a comment below.
