What Are The Differences Between a Male and Female Persian Cat?

So, you want to adopt a Persian cat. But should you adopt a male or a female? What are the differences? And what if you already have another cat in your household?

These are important questions to consider. A Persian cat’s gender can affect their personality. And their personality traits might influence your decision about which gender to adopt.

In this post, we are going to cover the differences between male and female Persian cats. By the end, we hope you understand the differences enough so you can make a confident decision when adopting your Persian cat.

Physical Differences

Male and female Persian cats are not very physically different. Of course, they do have different sex organs, but otherwise, these cats are very physically similar.

Their size is their only other major physical difference. Male Persian cats grow to be over 12 lbs. Females typically stay between 8-12 lbs.

Personality Differences

If you neuter or spay your Persian cats, they will exhibit very similar personality traits. But first, let’s look at their personality differences if these cats remain unaltered.

Male Persian Cats

Unneutered male cats have very aggressive personalities. Instinctively, they feel the need to guard their territory. So, if they feel threatened, they will fight. These fights can be very brutal and leave the cats badly injured.

Additionally, unneutered male cats will spray to mark their territory. This spray is a fluid that has a very strong and unpleasant smell. It alerts other cats that this territory is claimed. And if another cat crosses their territory, they will start a fight.

Unneutered male cats also have a strong instinct to breed. It can be hard to keep these cats inside because they want to go outside to find a mate. If a door is left open, these cats will often dart outside. So, you need to be careful to watch your male Persian cat and keep your doors closed.

PROS:

• Larger cats
• They can’t get pregnant
• Can be slightly more affectionate than females

CONS:

• Aggressive and often start fights
• Spray to mark their territory
• Rush outside to breed

Female Persian Cats

Unspayed female cats experience heat. During this cycle, they become anxious and loud. Instinctively, they are looking for a mate during this cycle. So, they will pace, howel, and often cry. If a door is left open, they might dart outside to search for a mate.

During heat, the noises and smells the females exhibit are designed to attract mates. So, you might notice a large gathering of neighborhood cats around your house. If your unspayed female cat goes outside during heat, she may return home pregnant.

PROS:

• Smaller cats
• Are often very affectionate during heat
• Can get pregnant (a PRO if you want to breed Persian cats)

CONS:

• Become loud during their heat cycle
• Their cries attract neighboring cats
• They can get pregnant (a CON if you don’t want to breed Persian cats)

Spayed and Neutered Persian Cats

So now we know the differences between unaltered Persian cats. But what are the differences between spayed and neutered Persian cats?

Male and female Persian cats that have been fixed exhibit similar personality traits. You no longer have to worry about breeding or heat. These cats are calm and affectionate. If anything, neutered male cats might be slightly more affectionate than spayed female cats.

Unless you are breeding Persian cats, it is advisable to spay or neuter your pets. This helps prevent pet homelessness, certain diseases, and undesirable personality traits. Most kittens should be fixed once they reach 5-6 months old. Rescue shelters often fix cats before they are adopted.

Multi-Cat Households

So, if you are considering creating a multi-cat household you might be wondering, “what gender Persian cat should I adopt?”

This is an important question to consider. You want your current cat to respond well to your new cat.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to make the perfect decision. So much depends on each cat’s individual personality. But, you can still try your best to create a peaceful household for your cats.

If all of your cats are fixed, it really shouldn’t matter what genders you adopt. They will all behave similarly.

But, if you have unneutered or unspayed cats, you need to be more careful about the genders you adopt. If you have an unspayed female, you should consider adopting another female. But, if you have an unneutered male it doesn’t matter too much. Just be aware, if you adopt another male they might fight. And if you adopt an unspayed female, your male cat might impregnate this new female cat.

Final Thoughts

We hope you feel more prepared to adopt a Persian cat. If you are not planning to breed, you should strongly consider spaying or neutering your Persian kitten. This way, you can avoid the undesirable personality traits that come with unfixed cats.

But, if you decide not to fix your cats, be prepared to deal with the associated personality traits.

What gender is your Persian cat? Let us know below!