Adding another cat to your household can be stressful or not stressful at all. Some cats seem to take months before they can even stand to be in the same room, while others get used to each other within a few days.
Cats are individuals, so there is much that goes into whether they get along with others. Socialization, temperament, and similar factors all play a role. Some cats just don’t like other cats. Others seem to get along with all other animals.
With so many factors involved, it is interesting to consider whether sex may be one of them. Do male cats get along better than females or vice versa?
In all honesty, we don’t know. There aren’t many studies done on unrelated cat relationships. Most studies are between littermates, which information that obviously won’t apply among unrelated felines.
Instead of relying on sex, you should instead look at the cats’ temperaments. A shy, laidback cat will usually not get along well with an active cat. That said, pairing two highly active, territorial cats will likely result in fights as well.
What If the Cats Are Siblings?
While we don’t have much information about unrelated cats, we do know a few things about littermates. If you’re thinking about purchasing two different kittens from a litter, sex will likely be one factor that affects your kitten choice.
However, there isn’t any evidence that male kittens get along better than female kittens or vice versa. Sex doesn’t really seem to matter much in the long run. If there is an effect, it is too small to be noticeable. Most littermates get along well simply because they have been around each other their whole lives.
That said, their personality does play a role. Active cats will usually stress out laidback cats. It can be hard to tell a cat’s future temperament based on their actions as kittens, though. Ask the breeder of the litter to help you choose two cats that have similar personalities, as this may help them get along better.
Based on this logic, it may not necessarily matter whether you choose two males or two females. Instead, it may only matter that you choose two cats of the same personality. After all, these cats are more likely to get along. There isn’t any current scientific data to back this up, though.
Are Male Cats More Aggressive Toward Other Males?
There is a misconception that male cats are more territorial and therefore, may be more aggressive toward other males. However, this isn’t necessarily true. Some males are territorial but some aren’t. It is more of a matter of personality than sex.
Unlike some wild cat species, both males and female domestic cats establish their own “territory.” Some cats are fine with other cats entering their territory. This isn’t determined by their sex, but their temperament.
Therefore, some female pairs may fight more than some male pairs. Some males may end up being territorial and aggressive, but this isn’t because they are male.
To avoid aggression, it is important to introduce your cats appropriately. This often involves plenty of build-up time to an actual meeting. You should keep your new cat in a closed-off area for at least a week. This allows the cats to establish “new” territory before being introduced. Otherwise, they may fight over where they each belong.
If you’re adopting two cats at the same time, this is less of a problem. Neither cat will have a territory set up yet, so they won’t have anything to defend.
Do Male Cats Fight With Female Cats?
Yes, a cat’s sex has little to do with what cats they fight with. No matter their sex, a cat will set up their own “territory” in their home and will dislike other cats being in it, even if they are a different sex. A domestic cat’s territory can be small. It may include a single pillow on a bed or a window sill.
Your cats aren’t going to divide up the whole house, but they will have their spaces. Their sex isn’t going to change this.
On top of this, some cats simply don’t like other cats, even if they are of a different sex. This goes for both male and female cats. If they were not socialized around other cats, they may be fearful toward them or simply not know how to act. A male can absolutely fight a female cat.
Can Two Male Cats Live Together?
Yes, it mostly involves whether their temperaments line up. If you have two laidback males, they are likely to get along just fine. Two territorial males may drive each other nuts, though. If one male is territorial and the other laidback, the territorial male may also annoy the laidback male.
Neutering the cats may help. However, it usually won’t change a cat’s temperament too much. It may cut down on marking and similar behaviors on the aggressor’s part, but it probably won’t suddenly make your cats best friends.
Littermates are more likely to get along than unrelated cats. These cats are already bonded and know how to act around each other. However, sudden changes in their relationship may occur after they reach sexual maturity.
Are Female Cats More Territorial Than Male Cats?
The territorial behaviors of a cat depends more on their temperament than sex. You may come across a male cat that doesn’t seem to care much about other cats at all, while a female may growl at any cat that she sees out the window. Sex doesn’t matter outside of sexual behaviors, such as marking. (But even then, some females do mark.)
Females are not innately more territorial than males.
Final Thoughts
When choosing two cats, select them based on their temperament, not sex. Two male cats won’t necessarily get along with each other better than two female cats. A male and a female may not get along better than a pair of the same sex. Sex simply isn’t an accurate predictor of how well a pair of cats will get along.
Instead, whether the cats are similar in temperament is more important. Cats that act the same are more likely to get along. The only time this isn’t the case is when you’re dealing with two active, territorial cats. In this case, they are more likely to fight because their temperaments are similar.
Featured Image Credit: Sarah Fields Photography, Shutterstock
