Pat - Beautiful? or Handsome?

Pat is our big, all-black kitty. Two years ago during one of our January cold spells (several days in a row where the high temperature for the day doesn't get above ZERO - yes that is what I said!) Pat started hanging around my house. I already had two cats and wasn't looking for a third. And one of my cats, Wiskerz (tuxedo black & white) is a very dominant cat who I guessed would not take kindly to an intruder. Pat was VERY BIG and I had visions of ferocious fights with hissing, spitting, and fur flying. But I was worried that Pat would freeze, so I let Pat in. Actually Pat was kind of shy and I had to coax and catch Pat to get it inside. Much to my surprise, Wiskerz tolerated and welcomed Pat - there were really no harsh words exchanged between the two. It turns out that Pat looks big but acts small and submissive. Pat is all muscle, not a speck of fat - a very healthy, young specimen. Pat is friendly but does not like to be picked up. It started as a joke when we wondered if Pat was a male or a female. Pat put up such a ruckus over us trying to examine private parts, that we just decided it wasn't worth it. Pat has traits of both male cats and female cats. So we decided on the name Pat based on the SNL androgynous character. Also, Pat has very thick fur making a sneak peek also worthless for determining gender.

Pat is very close to the perfect cat. Pat doesn't bite or scratch, likes to be outside a lot, always uses the litter box, doesn't shed much and has a funny personality and voice. Pat's only and very minor annoyance is that it begs when it wants out – and continues until someone lets it out. Pat engages in conversation with us and loves attention (just hates to be picked up or held) and sleeps like a log at the foot of the bed. Pat will try to rub against me and interfere when I am reading in bed but all I have to do is tell Pat - go to sleep Pat and it goes to the foot of the bed and curls up to sleep.

So is Pat a male or female? - we have no idea and the kids would be disappointed if I ever found out. I guess it is our home version of 'don't ask - don't tell'