The Differences Between Male and Female Kittens

It can be difficult to determine if a kitten is male or female. Unlike dogs, cats have their reproductive anatomy just below their rectum in both males and females. This makes “sexing” or determining the sex of kittens a challenge, especially when they are young kittens and aren’t fully developed. 

All kittens should be born with two anatomical openings just below the tail — one for the anus and the other for the genital area. The primary way to tell a female kitten from a male kitten involves comparing the distance between the anal opening and the genital opening.

For male kittens, the space between the anus and the penis is longer, as this allows space for the testicles to eventually descend. Conversely, the space for female kittens between the anus and the vagina is shorter.

With regards to shape, the opening for a male kitten’s penis is circular, while the opening for a female kitten’s vagina is a vertical slit.