Are you a cat lover? Do you want to learn some interesting facts about male cats? Like, what do they mean when they wag their tails? Then read on.
In this article, we will take a look at the 12 interesting facts about male cats. These will make your relationship with your cat more enjoyable if you plan to bring a male cat home.
The following are some of the most interesting facts about male cats.
1 Male Cats Are More Likely To Be Left-Pawed
Like right-handed or left-handed humans, cats also have “dominant” paws. According to research, male cats have a considerable propensity for using their left paw.
One study found that about 52 percent of male cats prefer the left paw, and 16 percent showed no paw preference. Cats can have a dominant paw when walking stairs, reaching for food, stepping over an obstacle, and performing other activities.
The fascinating thing is that paw preference varies according to gender. Female cats prefer their right paws, while male cats prefer their left paws.
2 Male Cats Have a Shorter Life Expectancy
Male cats, like human men and women, live one to two years less than female cats on average. It’s not a reason to be disturbed if you have a male cat.
Remember that this statistic is based on an average, not a fixed rule. While the actual reason for the shorter life expectancy is unknown, we do know that other factors are likely to influence a male cat’s life expectancy.
It matters a lot if it’s indoors or outdoors cat. Research shows that outdoor cats live an average of 2 to 5 years, while indoor cats usually live between 10 to 15 years.
Another deciding factor is whether the cat is neutered or not.
3 Male Cats Have Stronger Desires for Scratching and Clawing
Cats scratch trees and fence posts in the wild to make other cats aware of their presence.
They do this to express emotions, like excitement or stress. Cats mark objects with their scent that spreads from the glands in the pads.
Because male cats are more territorial, they also experience a greater urge to scratch walls, furniture, or rugs. This natural behavior in the wrong place can frustrate the owners (you humans, cat roommates, you’re not the owner)
To discourage this behavior, provide your cat with enough scratching posts, preferably near entrances and exits. It helps a lot satisfy their need to scratch.
4 Caterwauling Is a Common Behavior in Male Cats
If the sounds of yowling cats kept you awake at night, you were likely listening to caterwauling. Male cats advertise their availability to mate with these loud, piercing screams.
This wooing activity has a twofold purpose: it attracts female cats that are in heat while frightening other male suitors.
When female cats are in heat, they have a unique lure that they use to attract male cats.
But did you know that male cats also have a courtship call? Sometimes known as a “meow,” it is a loud, intense sound that cats make with an open mouth.
5 Most Male Cats are Kitten Killers
Cats are hunters, and it’s nearly impossible to get them to stop. Young kittens can catch a male cat’s interest, and that early curiosity often brings out his hunting instincts.
After some time, that strange little cat can look like other prey, such as mice and squirrels. It can trigger a male cat’s natural hunting instinct, resulting in tragedy.
Another motive is that they want to reduce competition in their territory.
6 Male Cats Are Sometimes Called “Tomcats”
Male cats that have not been neutered are frequently referred to as “toms” or “tomcats.” This nickname originated from the popularity of a book called “The Life and Adventures of a Cat” (1760).
This book tells the story of a cat named Tom, who is very promiscuous. People began calling their male cats “toms” due to the story’s popularity, and the term stuck.
It’s also alleged that this is where the term “tomcatting,” a slang term for promiscuous behavior, originated.
7 Males Cats Are More Affectionate
Though female cat lovers may disagree, the assumption that male cats are friendlier than females appears universal. A study of veterinarians majoring in felines rated the males as the warmest.
On the other hand, they have different personalities, and there is no scientific evidence that male cats are more friendly than female cats.
They may also pay more attention to you now that they are not distracted by attracting a female cat to mate.
8 Most Orange Tabbies Are Male
Orange tabby cats, also known as “ginger cats,” are more likely to be male than female. Up to 80 percent are male, and only 20 percent are female.
It’s because the gene that causes the orange coat is found on the X chromosome. The Female cats have two X chromosomes, while the male cats have X and Y chromosomes.
Since the females have two X chromosomes, female orange tabbies require two copies of the gene to become ginger, whereas males only need one.
9 Male Cats Are More Solitary
Another fact that applies to wild male cats more than their domestic counterparts is that they are more solitary. They are often more solitary than females in the wild.
It’s because they want to be alone to avoid competing for females and food. This solidarity is not usually the case with indoor male cats because mostly, they are sterile, which removes their desire to mate.
They also get food, which removes their need to compete for food.
10 Male Cats are Fertile All Year Round
Male cats do not go into heat; this is a female cat trait. On the other hand, male cats reach sexual maturity around five months and, if not neutered, will respond to females in heat.
Neutered male cats are less likely to respond. Male kittens reach sexual maturity and begin to produce sperm as early as four months of age. They stay reproductive for more than fourteen years. Even when their reproductive abilities deteriorate, they retain the drive to mate.
11 Male Cat Territory Size
Unneutered male cats can cover larger territories than female cats; the average domestic cat’s roaming territory varies. Males prefer a more significant territory than females.
Also, adult male cats are usually larger and heavier than females and take about three years instead of two to reach their full weight. This is because they need to compete with other cats for females and territory.
12 Male Cat Temperament can Influence His Kittens
Research has shown that a male cat’s temperament can impact his kittens.
These discoveries indicate that brave and confident fathers produce brave and confident kittens. In contrast, shy male cats can have shy kittens. This shows that the father’s DNA may influence the temperament of the kittens.
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for taking your time and reading our article. We hope you enjoyed these interesting male cat facts.
If you live with a male cat, maybe you have noticed different cat behaviors compared to female cats? If yes, let us know in the comments. Let us know about your king of the home!
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