Many families looking for a British Shorthair automatically ask for a male kitten. One of the most common reasons is concern about spraying, while some people worry that a female cat may become very vocal when she reaches maturity.
But there is an important difference between the behaviour of an intact breeding cat and a spayed or neutered family pet.
An unneutered male may spray urine to mark territory, roam, or become more interested in finding a mate. After neutering, hormone-driven spraying is greatly reduced, and the strong smell associated with intact male urine also decreases. Neutering also reduces mating-related roaming and fighting.
An unspayed female goes through heat cycles. During heat she may become restless, unusually affectionate, roll on the floor and call or yowl loudly while trying to attract a male. Once she is properly spayed, she no longer goes into heat, so these heat-related calling behaviours stop.
Can a spayed or neutered cat ever spray?
It is possible, but it is much less common. Spraying is not only a reproductive behaviour. Cats of either sex can occasionally mark because of stress, territorial insecurity, changes in the home or conflict with other cats. That is why no responsible breeder should promise that any cat will never spray.
For a properly spayed or neutered pet living in a stable home, however, the behaviours people usually associate with an intact breeding cat are greatly reduced.
So, are male British Shorthairs better pets?
Not necessarily.
Sex alone does not tell you whether a kitten will be affectionate, playful, confident, calm or people-oriented. Individual temperament matters much more.
A female British Shorthair can be wonderfully social, playful, curious and closely connected to her family. Some girls are very affectionate and interactive. Some boys are quieter and more independent. And of course, the opposite can also be true.
This is why at Royal Markys British Shorthair Cattery we encourage families not to choose a kitten only because the collar belongs to a boy or a girl.
We watch our kittens as they grow. We observe how they respond to people, how playful they are, how confident they become, how they interact with their littermates and what type of home may suit them best.
Choose the kitten — not the stereotype
If you are looking for a loving companion, keep an open mind about gender.
After spaying or neutering, many of the behaviours that people worry about are no longer driven by reproductive hormones. What remains is the part that really matters:
the kitten’s personality.
Sometimes the little girl you did not originally consider may turn out to be exactly the affectionate, playful and communicative companion you were hoping to find.
Royal Markys British Shorthair Cattery
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada