Are Female Cats More Loyal? The Factors That Matter

Cats can be stigmatized as being aloof and independent animals. These two personality traits would not likely make for an affectionate and loyal pet, but not all cats are aloof, and not all are so independent that they spurn human attention. However, because of this reputation, potential cat owners often want to do all they can to ensure that they get an affectionate and loyal cat. So, are female cats more loyal?

No, female cats are not more loyal than male cats.  Factors that may affect loyalty in cats include spay and neutering, extent and success of socialization, personality, and cat breed. Certain cat breeds, such as the British Shorthair, are known for their loyalty, or favor, of one caregiver.

Gender may not affect loyalty, but other factors can, and there are specific breeds that you can look at if you are particularly looking for a loyal cat.

Are Male or Female Cats More Loyal?

Cat gender does not influence loyalty in cats. It is a myth that female cats are more loyal, just like it is a myth that male cats are more laid-back. Both male and female cats have an equal propensity for being loyal to their owners.

Will My Cat Still Be Affectionate After Being Neutered?

Yes, your cat will still be affectionate after being neutered.  Many people will equate affection in cats to equal loyalty from cats. However, in many cases, you’ll see your cat becoming less aggressive after they have been spayed or neutered. 

I think your cat could become more affectionate after spaying or neutering because the surgery often eliminates quite a bit of the negative behavior driven by hormones.

Loyalty in Cats

Additionally, suppose you define loyalty in a cat as a preference to stay near home rather than going wandering. In that case, you should sterilize your cat (there are a great many other reasons to sterilize your cat, too!).

Unsterilized cats, especially males, will display a tendency to wander off to find a mate when they reach sexual maturity. Intact female cats are less likely to wander and will typically only increase their roaming tendencies when they are in heat. This may have led to the misconception that female cats are more loyal.

Sometimes cats can become accustomed to roaming. In this case, sterilization may only partially dampen their wanderlust.

What Makes a Cat Loyal?

In addition to whether your cat is spayed or neutered and cats sticking around their home and not wandering off, three other factors can influence a cat being considered loyal.  These factors are kitten socialization, cat personality, and cat breed.

The five main factors for cat loyalty are:

• Cat spayed or neutered
• Cat does not wander
• Kitten socialization
• Cat personality
• Cat breed

Socialization as kittens. A loyal cat is typically one who has been well-socialized as a kitten. Socialization to humans teaches kittens that humans are not to be feared. It also allows them to learn how to bond with people, something that they do not do naturally. The socialization period, when the kitten is most likely to adapt to new stimuli, occurs between two and eight weeks of age.

Feral cats are those without any human socialization. Cat colony caregivers will tell you that you can easily socialize feral kittens up to eight weeks of age. You can achieve a degree of socialization between eight and twelve weeks, although the kittens are less likely to accept a lot of physical affection. There is very little chance of getting a feral cat to trust a human after the age of about 12 weeks.

Cat Personality. As with everything in the world of cat characteristics and behavioral traits, individual cat personality is one of the biggest influences. Not all cats are the same. You can also get a cat whose breed is known for one particular characteristic, but your particular cat does not conform to the breed norm.

Cat Breed. Even though individual personality can outweigh the typical breed characteristics, these characteristics are documented because most of the cats in that breed display them. A couple of examples of cat breeds known for loyalty are the Russian Blue and Chartreux.

5 of the Most Loyal Cat Breeds

5 cat breeds stand out from the rest in terms of loyalty.  The 5 most loyal cat breeds are:

• British Shorthair cats
• Bengal cats
• Chartreux cats
• European Burmese cats
• Russian Blue cats

Are British Shorthair Cats Loyal?

Yes, British Shorthair cats are known for their loyalty. British Shorthair cats are fiercely loyal to their owners and show this by their attachment and affection.  British Shorthair cats are calm and affectionate to people they are comfortable with. They are unlikely to show loyalty to only one person in the household.

So, if you are after a cat that will spurn the attentions of your siblings or spouse, then a British Shorthair might let you down. However, they are wonderful, all-around great cats to have, so maybe you can settle for being one of the people your British Shorthair loves instead of the only one.

Are Bengal Cats Loyal?

Bengal cats are known for their exotic and wild looks but don’t be deceived. Bengal cats are known for being loyal friends to their owners. Bengal cats also bond strongly with their owners but are not specifically known as one-person only cats.

Chartreux Cats

Chartreux cats are like British Shorthairs in that they are also described as fiercely loyal cats who bond with all family members.  They are known to seek out family members when they want attention and to be excellent companions.

European Burmese Cats

European Burmese cats are well known to be extremely loyal to their owners.  European Burmese cats are descended from temple cats in Burma, so I imagine they have loyalty in their blood!

Are Russian Blue Cats Loyal?

Russian Blue cats make amazing pets. They are loyal and tend to bond closely with only one person. Although Russian Blue cats will not disregard the affection of other family members, visitors are not likely to be graced with a Russian Blue’s attention, and you will be the definite favorite, which is a very special feeling.

3 Best Cat Breeds that Bond with One Person

If you define loyalty in a cat as a bond with one person only, then you should consider getting one of these cat breeds:

• Russian Blue cats
• Siamese cats
• Norwegian Forest cats

Having a cat who is only happy with you is not always a good idea. They can become distressed and lonely when they are not around and may develop separation anxiety if not properly cared for. You will need to get your cat at least partially used to other people who can help and care for your cat when you cannot.

4 Cat Breeds That Are Best for Your Family

4 cat breeds stand out for their ability to bond with the whole family.  The 4 best cat breeds that are best for your family are:

• Persian cats
• Ragdoll cats
• Scottish Fold cats
• Siamese cats

Cats that have a disinclination to wander could also be lazier. If you have a cat that loves to stick around the family and the house, make sure that they are getting enough exercise by engaging them in playtime and providing them with plenty of toys and other stimulation.

Cat Loyalty

Loyal cats derive much pleasure and security from the companionship of their humans. But it can’t just be a one-way loyalty. As the owner, you will also have to show your cat that you are committed to them and value their companionship.

Spend time in your cat’s company and give them whatever affection they require (all cats are different). However, don’t push their boundaries, as this could be distressing to the cat.

You need to ensure that you are not absent from your loyal cat for long stretches. You obviously need to work, but if you are always going on vacation and leaving your dear, loyal cat in the care of a pet-sitter, a relative, or a friend, then they can start to feel neglected.

However, don’t start to view your cat as a prison warden; that is not helpful to your bond. You can still go on vacation, but if travel is your “thing” and you take every opportunity (even if it’s just the weekend) to go exploring the world, then a loyal cat is not for you. You might need to reconsider getting a pet at all.

Conclusion

Gender does not influence loyalty. Both male and female cats have an equal propensity for being loyal to their owners. Factors that are more likely to influence loyalty are the sterilization status of your cat, with sterilized cats being less likely to wander away from home, socialization as kittens, cat personality, and cat breed.

Some breeds are noted for their loyalty, including British Shorthair cats, Bengal cats, Chartreux cats, European Burmese cats, and Russian Blues.

However, if you believe bonding to one person only is a sign of loyalty, then you should look at breeds like Russian Blues, Siamese cats, and Norwegian Forest cats.

Owning a loyal cat is a gift and a responsibility. They lavish you with affection and faithful companionship, but they need you to provide them with the same.

If you enjoyed this article, check out a few more:

• Are Female Cats More Loving? Revealing Details About Cat Love:  Click Here.
• Do Feral Cats Make Good Pets? Devastating News:  Click Here.
• Can Stray Cats Be Affectionate? Best Reason Why:  Click Here.