Click to Skip Ahead Purpose and Function of a Cat’s Clitoris How to Determine the Sex of Your Cat Other Ways to Determine Gender Importance of Knowing the Sex of Your Cat Determining the sex of a cat isn’t as easy as it is with dogs. How many stories have you heard in which a cat named “Jack” turns out to be a “Jill?” This is an incredibly common situation, and it shows how foreign the feline genitalia is to most humans. However, when it comes to the basics, cats have the same basic anatomy as humans; male cats are born with testes and a penis, and female cats are born with a clitoris and vagina. So, why is it such a challenge to determine a cat’s sex? In this article, we will discuss how you can figure out your cat’s sex, as well as why the information is important, beyond choosing the perfect name for your pet. The Purpose and Function of a Cat’s Clitoris All mammalian embryos essentially start out life as female (which is why males have nipples!). Shortly into development, their genetics determine whether their gonads will become ovaries or testes, and if they will have a penis or clitoris. That’s right, the clitoris is the female equivalent of the penis. In female humans, ovulation occurs on a regular cycle. As for female cats, they only ovulate when they mate with a male. This is known as induced ovulation, in which the physical act of copulation causes the ovaries to release eggs. Since female cats reproduce through induced ovulation, there must be a biological “tripwire” of sorts to tell the ovaries when to release eggs, and this “tripwire” is widely believed to be the clitoris. The feline penis is covered in tiny barbs that result in even more friction and stimulation during copulation. In humans, the clitoris is located a distance away from the vagina. For female cats, the clitoris is located inside the vestibule, making it ideally positioned for stimulation during mating. As clitoral stimulation is a natural occurrence during feline breeding, it is believed that the clitoris acts as a trigger, prompting the release of hormones that will set off ovulation. Therefore, the clitoris plays a key role in feline reproduction and breeding. Image Credit: You are welcome to use our infographic but we do require you to link back to Catster.com How to Determine the Sex of Your Cat While determining your cat’s sex can be difficult, it’s not impossible. The easiest way to discover the sex of your cat is to take them to the vet for an official examination. Otherwise, there are different methods you can use depending on your cat’s age. Unlike with dogs, the feline penis is not located on the abdomen. Instead, it is hidden from view, tucked underneath the anus. Apart from when they are having a thorough clean, you will generally not catch sight of your cat’s penis. Under 8 Weeks of Age If your kitten is less than 8 weeks old, determining their sex will be a bit more of a challenge. Like the rest of your kitten’s body, their external genitalia is tiny and difficult to see. To make sexing your kitten easier, it is ideal if you can compare them to their littermates. This will allow you to see examples of male and female kittens so that you can more easily differentiate between the two. If your kitten is no longer with their littermates, you can attempt to determine their sex the same way you would for a kitten over eight weeks of age. Over 8 Weeks of Age For cats over 8 weeks old, determining their sex is much more straightforward. Simply lift their tail and check the shape of the genital opening as well as the distance between the opening and the anus. In males, the genital opening will be circular and farther away from the anus. In females, the genital opening will be linear and closer to the anus. As most cat owners know, randomly grabbing your cat’s tail and lifting it is unlikely to yield good results. Instead, approach the situation carefully so that your cat feels comfortable. First, find a time when your cat is calm and gently hold them in your lap. Once they are relaxed, you can gently lift their tail to inspect them. It is important to note that you will likely not be able to see your cat’s penis, so determining your cat’s sex based on that structure alone is not advised. The same goes for the testes, which may have already been removed if your cat has been sterilized. Therefore, a lack of visible male sex structures does not necessarily mean your cat is female. Image Credit: You are welcome to use our infographic but we do require you to link back to Catster.com Are There Other Ways to Determine the Sex of Your Cat? The only way to guarantee the sex of your cat is to examine their genitals. If you are struggling to do so, your vet can determine your cat’s sex for you. In the meantime, there may be some other ways to get an idea of the sex of your cat. Unique to felines, the gene for the orange coat color is sex-linked, found only on the X-chromosome. Males with this gene will be either black or orange (ginger), with or without some white. Females, however, can be black, ginger, or a blend (calico or tortoiseshell). This means that virtually all calico or tortoiseshell cats are female, and around 80% of ginger cats are male. However, this method is not a guarantee. While incredibly rare, male calico cats exist. Due to genetic mutations that cause cats to have more than two sex chromosomes, male cats can develop calico colors. These cats are known as Klinefelter cats. Image Credit: You are welcome to use our infographic but we do require you to link back to Catster.com Why Is It Important to Know the Sex of Your Cat? Many people may think that knowing your cat’s sex is only important for naming purposes, but that’s not the case. There are several reasons that pet owners should know their pet’s sex. Some health issues or behavioral problems are more prevalent in one sex over another. For instance, males are at higher risk of fatal urinary tract blockages than females. Knowing which conditions your cat may be susceptible to based on their sex can allow you to catch the signs of a condition earlier and potentially save your cat a lot of discomfort and pain. If you have a brother and sister, or just a male and female kitten, you will want to know this so you can make plans for neutering before ending up with unwanted kittens, especially  from siblings! In addition, sexual development disorders can be an issue, such as gonadal disorders. Gonadal disorders impact your cat’s reproductive organs, but the signs may appear different based on your cat’s sex. For example, in females, common signs of a sexual development disorder include an abnormally large clitoris. Therefore, knowing your cat’s sex tells you not just if they are a “Jack” or a “Jill,” but it also helps you to remain informed on their health status. Image Credit: Ermolaev Alexander, Shutterstock Final Thoughts The female cat does indeed have a clitoris, and it likely plays a vital role in feline reproduction. As induced ovulators, it is important for copulation to stimulate a hormonal response in order for eggs to be released from the ovaries. The location of the clitoris, along with the anatomy of the penis, ensures this stimulation occurs. While female cats have clitorises, this won’t help you to determine a cat’s sex. Instead, focus on the shape of the genital opening as well as its distance from the anus. If you are confused, consulting your vet is the best way to go. Sources https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/evolution-female-orgasm-ovulation-rabbits/ https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/evr_ct_how_to_determine_the_sex_of_a_kitten https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/reproductive/c_ct_sexual_development_disorders https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/reproductive/c_ct_vaginal_abnormalities https://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/can-calico-cats-be-male Featured Image Credit: Hanna Taniukevich, Shutterstock The post Do Cats Have a Clitoris? Vet-Reviewed Facts About Cat Genitals (With Infographics) appeared first on Pet Keen.

A dozen years ago, Peter Navarro and Greg Autry released “Death by China: Confronting the Dragon — a Global Call to Action.” That prescient 2011 book warned of the Chinese Communist Party’s global assault on human rights and the environment and its increasingly assertive military posture. It also had an entire chapter on China’s growing space capability, warning that “China’s aggressive rise into space may turn out to be the ultimate weapon to bring America to its knees.” I wish that I could dismiss Autry and Navarro as alarmists, but sadly, they were right on target. For instance, “Death by China” cautioned that China’s destructive kinetic anti-satellite testing would be a threat to space navigation and noted that the Chinese were actively testing the ability of powerful ground-based lasers to “dazzle” or degrade U.S. space assets. A few years later, while I was commander of the International Space Station, we were forced to maneuver to avoid debris from a Chinese ASAT test. 'Red Moon Rising' argues that landing Americans on the moon is as essential a victory today as it was in the Cold War — but the vision must be bigger. A few months after that, while looking out the window one night at the darkness of Western China, I suddenly saw a disorienting bright flash. I had been lased from a ground station in China. These two incidents left no doubt in my mind that our Chinese friends have plans to dominate space by any means necessary. In their newly released book, “Red Moon Rising: How America Will Beat China on the Final Frontier,” Autry and Navarro update the details of this very real threat and offer a set of concrete policy recommendations for ensuring U.S. leadership in space. Space Race 2.0 is here. While the West’s souring relationship with China has brought us to the brink of a strange new Cold War, the authoritarian nation has clearly eclipsed Russia and is assuming the role of the world’s second space power. China has no intention of stopping there and has declared leadership in the heavens as an official national objective by 2045. If that should come to pass, it will be very bad for America and all freedom-loving people on Earth. “Red Moon Rising” highlights vital threats that we would face during a future conflict with China in space, including nuclear high-energy electromagnetic pulse weapons. Just as China and Russia have declared a “no-limits” partnership down here on Earth, they also appear poised to cooperate in space, including the frightening possibility of using HEMPs: Readily available Chinese military documents not only reveal the ability to deploy these weapons but make frighteningly clear that Beijing views HEMPs as a class of “cyberweapons” unconstrained by the international agreements and norms that have so long controlled the use of traditional nuclear arms. The book also notes that China’s party mouthpiece, the Global Times, has publicly stated, “EMPs aren’t really even an act of war.” Autry and Navarro do not simply focus on the negative. Their most important insights are concrete policy recommendations for securing U.S. success and a peaceful international future in space. “Red Moon Rising” argues that landing Americans on the moon under the Artemis program is as essential a victory today as it was in the last Cold War but notes that the vision must be much bigger. They write: The important words here are “sustainable,” “long-term,” and “utilization.” We are not doing “Flags and Footprints” again. We are returning to the moon long-term to utilize the resources there and to build a sustainable space economy centered around commercial activities. The goal is very clear: America intends to lead humanity in settling the solar system and in improving life on Earth with the riches found there. We will not leave the future of humanity in space or on our home planet to be defined by China and Russia. America’s remarkable commercial space firms are central players in “Red Moon Rising.” It offers a fascinating look at the early emergence of that industry, and many of the policy recommendations hinge around growing our economy, building commercial space infrastructure, and lowering programmatic costs via the increased use of public-private partnerships. The authors wisely counsel, “We will not beat China at socialism by running a centrally planned, governmental space race.” “Red Moon Rising” is informative and fun to read. Every assertion is backed up with direct quotes and data, and it includes over 40 pages of recommended sources and endnotes. And perhaps most importantly, Autry and Navarro apply their sardonic humor and even find hope in the darkest of future space scenarios.

At the end of my eighth-grade basketball season, the team parents got together to make big bouquets of flowers in purple and gold — the colors of the high school we would be attending next season. The big-time high school coaches were in attendance, having watched us come up through the ranks of the local feeder teams. There was applause, there were balloons, and the entire gymnasium full of our families and local community supporters witnessed our public graduation from badgers to bullfrogs (don’t ask). A letterman in three sports, I got accustomed to formal community recognition of the little steps and achievements of childhood. I suspect many women grow up similarly ingrained to seek and follow public cheering from one milestone to the next. One gets to the point where one wonders if, indeed, anything has been achieved at all if a gym of clappers isn’t on hand to confirm it. Neither my husband nor I discerned separate “vocations” regarding work and home life. Our vocation is our marriage, providing for ourselves and our children, and the life that we have carefully built for our family as members of our church community. The online controversy over Harrison Butker’s commencement speech reminded me of the painful transition that child show ponies of all stripes have once they reach adulthood. When there are no longer assemblies and balloons to convey how your adoring public supports your next move, how in the world do you decide what path to take? Worse, when each option is accompanied by far more boos and hisses than applause, how can a young person dodge the rotten tomatoes and proceed with confidence? At some point, there is indeed an end to the applause. We all have to just grow up into adults capable of making decisions when no one at all is clapping. The Butker controversy really boils down to a public debate over the appropriate level of clapping owed to homemakers. One side thinks there should be more public honor given to women who decide to stay home and care for their families. The other, more or less, does not. When I got married at 24, there was not a path available to me that could possibly please everybody. My family was mostly secular. My grandmother had worked at UC Berkeley, my mother was a career woman with an advanced degree, and I had completed all my coursework for my Ph.D. My new husband’s Catholic parents had married right out of high school at 19, and his mother had stayed home to raise six great kids. If I chose to stay home with my children, I would be a disappointment to my family, to say the least. If I chose to work, I would be a scandal to my in-laws. Either way, there would certainly not be balloons and flowers. It’s been almost two decades since I faced this decision, but the mommy wars turned Butker debate last month resurrected that old-fashioned no way to win feeling. Are women really women if they work outside the home? Are men really properly supported if their wives have other paid interests? Are women allowing themselves to be emotionally and financially too dependent upon their husbands if they choose to stay home? Which path did I end up taking? Both paths. All the paths. “My vocation” was whatever my husband and I discerned was best for our family at any given time, and we didn’t wait for anyone else to weigh in, and we didn’t consult any bystanders. One of the best things about the Christian faith is that “the rules” are pretty straightforward. Don’t commit mortal sin, don’t set yourself on the path to sin (what Catholics call the “near occasion of sin”). Keep your prayer life up so you don’t become too hard-headed to change course if needed. Other than that, do what makes sense, and pay no attention to who is clapping and who is booing. In the past 18 years of marriage, “my vocation” has included long days at home with three kids three and under, long days making money at a full-time job, and long days part-timing both motherhood and work while homeschooling five kids. My husband has not prioritized the type of career that would prompt him to leave me to prioritize our children and our home life alone. We have both prioritized our home life and our children. That means he has rejected multiple job offers and career opportunities because they involved too much travel or moving the family to a new state, away from our community. He has built up a customer base only to lose it during COVID, changed industries, started a new business at age 40, and pivoted again to build an even better customer base closer to home requiring no overnight travel. I have worked in academia, think tanks, local real estate, the Catholic parish, and publishing. I have part-timed, full-timed, 1099ed, and volunteered. My husband and I started a local school and a homeschooling co-op and have worked to build our local community from a handful of faithful homeschooling families to several dozen. Neither my husband nor I discerned separate “vocations” regarding work and home life. Our vocation is our marriage, providing for ourselves and our children, and the life that we have carefully built for our family as members of our church community. Work, income, and careers are all secondary and ordered to our shared vocation. We prioritized my career while I was finishing my Ph.D. and his career while I was having babies and nursing infants. Our goal once our kids are grown is for both of us to work a little bit, with a paid-off house and ranch and enough money saved so that neither of us has to work full-time. As they approach the great theodrama and find their lives within it, young people understandably want to make the “correct” decisions from the outset. They figure if they can just get a show of hands — an assessment of where each person in their lives falls on the working vs. homemaker moms debate — that this survey of opinions will save them from having to learn things the hard way. But of course, gaining practical wisdom — prudence — is the point. What the online Butker conversation fails to convey to young people is that their work and home decisions are not something they need to run by the local cheer squad. The exciting thing about marriage is that it’s up to no one else but you two. You don’t have to consult anybody; you don’t even have to pick a side in this stupid debate. Online work/life debates flare up again with each new generation because they are, in reality, inexperienced young people trying to unearth the perfect theory, the perfect life philosophy to help them steer clear of the potholes of growing up. It doesn’t exist. It is almost impossible to know what career and home-life demands will be placed upon you before you even begin to live your life. We all learn from missteps and pivots as we develop experience. There are no shortcuts to gaining practical knowledge. It can’t be summed up ahead of time or crowdsourced away. Virtue is action, not head knowledge. The only philosophy of life worth giving yourself over to is this: Pursue sainthood. That’s it. That’s the magic lifestyle hack. It can take a million different forms. St. Joan of Arc gave her life to God in battle; St. Edith Stein in the barracks at Auschwitz; St. Zelie Martin in all the little moments of everyday domestic life. What unites all of them is that they accepted the crosses given to them and discerned their particular path forward. Life is different for each of us, depending upon our particular situation. Nobody knows the specifics of your life like you and your spouse. Happiness and virtue are therefore yours to uncover through the shared vocation particular to you two. So game on. Go get it.

Chicago Sky Head Coach Issues Stern Non-Apology Following Her Player’s On-Court Mugging of Caitlin Clark

Tuesday Morning Minute

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