12 Surprising Facts About Male Cats - #9 is Disturbing

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12 Surprising Facts About Male Cats - #9 is Disturbing

This one's for the boys! That's right, believe it or not, there are many interesting things about male cats that are unique to their sex. Even if you already know some facts about male cats, some of them might surprise you. So without further ado, here are 12 surprising facts about male cats.

Facts about male cats

1. They are more likely to be left-handed

We all know that humans can be left-handed or right-handed. But did you know that most cats also have a dominant paw? Now obviously cats can't write. And even if they could, they'd probably leave that job to the dogs.

But cats can master their paws when picking up food, climbing stairs, stepping on an object, and the like. What's even more interesting is that paw preference differs by sex. Females generally prefer right legs, and you guessed it, males tend to prefer left legs.

In fact, one study found that approximately 52% of male cats had a left paw preference and 16% had no paw preference. That left only 30% of male cats with a right-paw preference.

2. They have a shorter life expectancy

On average, male cats live one to two years less than female cats. If you have a male cat, this is not a reason to panic. Remember, this fact is based on an average, not a hard rule.

While the exact reasoning for this shorter lifespan isn't entirely clear, what we do know is that other factors are much more likely to determine a cat's lifespan. An example is whether a cat is indoors or outdoors.

According to WebMD, outdoor cats live an average of 2 to 5 years, while indoor cats typically live 10 to 15 years. Also, whether or not a cat is neutered or neutered is a big deciding factor, which brings us to the next fact.

3. Neutered males live longer

One study found that neutered male cats live 62% longer than non-neutered males, and the reasons are pretty clear. For one, a neutered male cat is completely excluded from the risk of testicular cancer. Also, a neutered male is much less aggressive, which means he is less likely to get into fights.

Fewer fighting also means a cat is less likely to contract deadly diseases like FIV (feline AIDS), FeLV (feline leukemia) or feline distemper (feline panleukopenia virus). This is because these diseases are often transmitted through bites or scratches during fights. It goes without saying that the less likely a cat is to contract a disease, the more likely it is to live longer.

4. They are not fatherly... with one exception

Most parent cats show no interest in their newborn kittens. Instead, they leave the love and affection to their mother. However, the Siamese seems to be the exception to this trait. Siamese males are said to be more likely to show affection for their kittens than any other breed.

This is because there have been complaints of Siamese males lying down and caring for their young. These claims should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the Siamese, as this breed is known to be extremely affectionate. The Siamese is also one of the few breeds that wants constant attention.

5. They have a mating call

Many cat enthusiasts have heard of the distinctive howl an unneutered female cat makes when in heat. But it turns out that unneutered male cats have their own mating call known as a "winepress."

They make that sound to tell the beauties that they are available. Male cats also make noise to let the females know that they have heard their mating calls. Finally, they do this to warn other male cats of their presence in their territory.

6. They are sometimes called "Tomcats"

Unneutered male cats are sometimes called "toms" or "tomcats". It is believed that this nickname came 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. Due to the popularity of this story, people began calling their male cats "toms" and eventually the term stuck. It is also believed that this is where the term "tomcatting" came from, which is slang for promiscuous behavior.

7. Maine Coon males are too big

In case you're not familiar, the Maine Coon is the largest domesticated breed of cat. A male Maine Coon can weigh up to 25 pounds while still being considered healthy. That's more than twice the average 10-pound weight for a healthy house cat (male cats average 11 to 15 pounds).

The average adult male Maine Coon weighs between 15 and 25 pounds and is between 19 and 40 inches long. In fact, a male Maine Coon holds the Guinness World Record for the world's longest domestic cat. The cat, whose name is Barivel, lives with his owners in Italy. It measures 3 feet (11.2), which is longer than a baseball bat!

8. Most orange tabby cats are male

Orange tabby cats, also called "red cats," are much more likely to be male than female. In fact, up to 80 percent are men, and only 20 percent are women. This is because the gene that produces orange fur is on the X chromosome.

As a throwback to Biology 101, females have two X chromosomes and males have one X and one Y chromosome. Since females have two X chromosomes, Spotted oranges need two copies of the gene to become redheads, while males only need one.

9. They have been known to kill kittens

This is the most disturbing male cat fact on this list, so if you're squeamish, feel free to skip this one. Although uncommon with domestic cats, feral male cats have been known to kill other cats' kittens and even their own kittens, for reasons that vary.

One reason is that the male cat may mistake kittens for prey due to their small size and writhing movements, which can trigger a cat's natural hunting impulse and lead to tragedy. Another reason is to reduce competition in your territory.

This behavior stems from the instinct to kill a rival's young to prevent the competition from taking control. A third possibility is that the kittens are not his and he wants to mate with the female so that she can keep her kittens.

10. Male cats are lonelier

This is another fact that applies more to wild male cats than their domesticated brethren. But in the wild, male cats tend to be more solitary than female cats. This is because the males are left alone to avoid having to compete for females and food.

This solidarity does not usually occur with domesticated male cats because we sterilize them, which makes them unwilling to mate. We also provide your food, which eliminates the need to compete for dinner.

11. The most popular male cat name is “Oliver”

Now I have to admit that this is one of my favorite facts about male cats. A report based on records from the Nationwide Pet Insurance database found the most popular cat names. Comparing the Cat Fanciers Association, Pedigree Cat Registry, Nationwide Pet Insurance Member Database, and FindCatNames.com list, the most popular male cat name in 2021 was found to be "Oliver."

12. The temperament of a male cat influences his kittens

Studies have shown that a male cat's temperament can influence the temperament of his kittens, even if they've never met!

These findings suggest that bold, confident parents produce bold, confident kittens, while shy male cats may produce timid kittens. This suggests that the father's genes may have a lot to do with the kittens' temperament.

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Source: The Purring Journal

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