1) It's completely ok and even expected for you to laugh at me in this thread (Even though I'm being completely serious with my question - it's still funny)
2) I found out that when I go to pick up my new baby the breeder won't be home herself - but her husband will be. I've met him twice before and I don't imagine I'll have many questions since I've adopted from her before and met my kitten already. (if I do have questions I can reach her the next day)
3) The only thing I have to get right is to pick the right kitten from the litter. The tortie girls are easy to spot and rule out. So that gives me a 50/50 shot since there's a seal point girl and there's him. She had been bigger last time but that could change....my question is, if I have one of each to look at, is it pretty darn easy to tell a neutered boy from a girl at 12 weeks old? I imagine it will be but I've never looked before!
4) Begin laughing now.
Hehe I will admit, I did giggle, but only slightly because I do see that this is a valid concern!
To be honest, I CANNOT tell the difference between a neutered male and a female. I have looked before, in the grooming salon I worked in cats came in that needed sanitary shaves, and honestly they all looked the same to me....
Here is my google search
rear view of male vs female cat although this is of a whole male :\
Perhaps a phone call to your vet could provide you with a clear description of what to look for, or a breeder here will soon chime in and tell you what the parts should look like hehehe
I'm hoping beyond hope that since they'll both be there to compare...I'll be able to figure it out (I'm bringing a diagram
)
Also, his sister had very round eyes and he didn't so between both ends I should get it right. Besides, everyone here knows me by now - I worry as a 2nd job.
You should be able to determine sexes. However, ask the breeder to tell you how to tell them apart. There are usually a list of characteristics or pattern differences that make it easy to tell kittens apart that the breeder has noticed and uses.
At 12 weeks if you look you should be able to tell a difference.
It is when they are younger that it is more of a challenge.
A girl is supposed to resemble a semi colon and a boy a colon shape.
This diagram might help:
http://www.best-cat-art.com/how-to-tell-...itten.html
Have the breeder distinguish for you in a more visual way or have them in separate rooms the day and time you are coming for pick-up.
For example; you kitten is in the living room and the other is in the sunroom. Each can have a tortie littermate to play with.
Oh good idea! Have the breeder distinguish them for you before you arrive. Otherwise wouldn't the husband have a good idea of who's who? I don't think its a silly question, I'm worried we won't be able to tell the sexes of our kittens either!
Well....if they are 12 weeks old and have just been neutered, won't the girl have an incision on her tummy - and possibly shaved?
All good ideas! I don't think she'll be able to put them in different rooms though since she'll be out of town for 5 days and I'm picking my baby up on the 5th day so she probably wouldn't want them separated that long. I believe she gets them neutered at 9 or 10 weeks old so I'm not sure if the incision would still show on his sister (?) But I bet you're right - it would have to take longer than 3 weeks to grow all her tummy fur back, right?
I would go for Teresa's suggestion... it was my first thought also, the incision and the shaved belly should be enough to tell them apart, boys have neither (if there wasn't a complication like a missing testicle)
If it's been 2-3 weeks since the girls were spayed would their bellies still show the incision / less fur? Thanks again everyone for all the help!