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To tell whether a kitten is male or female, look beneath the tail at two features together: the shape of the opening and how far it sits from the anus. A female usually has a vertical slit close beneath the anus. A male usually has a rounder opening set farther from the anus, and when they can be seen, the testicles sit in the space between the two openings. These are visual clues, not proof. Very young kittens are hard to read, and a veterinarian can confirm sex when the anatomy is unclear.
How to check a kitten’s sex, step by step
- Support the kitten. Keep its body supported and right-side-up on your lap or a table.
- Lift the tail gently. Raise it only enough to see the anus and the opening directly below it. There is no need to press on the belly or spread the area.
- Compare the shape and spacing. In a female, the two openings are close together and the lower one looks like a vertical slit. In a male, the gap between the openings is greater and the lower one looks round. The testicles lie in the area between them when they are visible.
- Look at littermates. If you have kittens of similar size, comparing them side by side often makes the difference easier to see.
- Leave it unconfirmed if you are still unsure. A wrong guess is common in young kittens, so an unconfirmed sex is a reasonable answer.
The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine’s Sex Determination in Kittens guide advises supporting the kitten and gently lifting the tail. ASPCApro’s kitten sexing job aid, “How to Tell if a Kitten Is Male or Female,” also recommends comparing littermates when possible.
What to look for: female versus male
| Feature | Female kitten | Male kitten |
|---|---|---|
| Opening shape | Vertical slit | Rounder opening |
| Distance from the anus | Close beneath the anus | Farther from the anus |
| Testicles | Absence from view does not establish that a kitten is female | Between the anus and the genital opening, when visible |
| Coat color | Calico or tortoiseshell is associated with females, but not definitive | Orange is more common in males, but not definitive |
Why a guess can go wrong
- Size. The anatomy is small in young kittens, and the difference between the two openings can be slight.
- Missing testicles. Testicles may not be visible in very young kittens, or may be too small to identify. Not seeing them does not mean the kitten is female.
- Coat color. Washington State University notes that calico or tortoiseshell coloring is associated with females and orange coloring is more common in males, but neither clue is definitive. Coat color can suggest a sex; it cannot confirm one.
When to have a veterinarian confirm
If the shape or spacing is unclear, or the kitten is very young, ask a veterinarian to examine it. Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s page on determining the sex of a kitten states: “This information is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Always follow the instructions provided by your veterinarian.”
The visual method is a practical estimate. None of the guides consulted for this article, including PetMD’s guide on telling the gender of a kitten, publishes an accuracy rate for it, so the method works best when the anatomy is clear and a vet confirms the rest.
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Keep handling calm and brief. A kitten that is stressed or squirming is harder to read, and it is easier to check again later than to force a look.
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