What is an accurate way to differentiate between a male and female kitten?

• A. By color patterns
• B. By the spacing between the anus and genital opening and the shape of the genital opening
• C. By voice pitch
• D. By tail length

Answer: (B)

To tell a kitten’s sex, you rely on the anatomy of the genital area, not color, voice, or tail length. Look at the spacing between the anus and the genital opening and the shape of that opening. In female kittens, the genital opening is a small vertical slit located very close to the anus, so the distance between the two is short. In male kittens, there is a larger gap between the anus and the genital opening, and the opening itself tends to be more rounded. This combination of a shorter anogenital distance with a vertical slit in females versus a longer distance with a rounder opening in males is the most reliable quick indicator, especially in very young kittens before secondary sexual traits develop.