# Any advice on how to tell black kittens apart? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 28, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361 "2014-12-28T16:04:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![corvidae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@corvidae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corvidae)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/1 "2014-12-28T16:04:49Z")
Hi everyone, We recently adopted two black kittens - littermates, both female. They are absolutely lovely little girlies and we’re enjoying them immensely. The problem is that they are both black without any distinguishing markings - even the vet was surprised at how difficult they were to tell apart. We’ve put different coloured collars on these young ladies and they’ve been good sports about it, for the most part (one did ditch the collar a time or two). However, I think we need a failsafe here - does anyone have any suggestions on ways to safely visually differentiate these chickies? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/2 "2014-12-28T16:11:02Z")
I think you’ll find that as you get to know them better and as they get bigger they won’t seem so identical. One will seem obviously fluffier, or to have larger ears, etc. I’ve owned a pair of unmarked grey cats, and a pair of matched tabbies, and soon came to think they didn’t look that much alike at all (“see, Smokey is larger, and Bandit has a more round face, and Smokey is fluffier, and Bandit has a shorter tail and…”) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/3 "2014-12-28T16:16:09Z")
We need pictures so we can judge the twinness. Also, it’s the Roolz. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/4 "2014-12-28T16:16:22Z")
Nail polish (carefully) on some of the little toenails on one. And, photos! ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/5 "2014-12-28T16:17:06Z")
Trim the end of one tail square… FUR ONLY!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/6 "2014-12-28T16:22:20Z")
Skunk stripe down the back of one of them. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/7 "2014-12-28T16:24:55Z")
Declaw the one with the longer tail and the notched ear. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/8 "2014-12-28T16:25:12Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Skunk stripe down the back of one of them. It’s Xmas season (still, a bit). I suggest a red stripe on one and green on the other. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/9 "2014-12-28T16:53:02Z")
Fight the stereotype! Give them the same name and act like you only have one cat. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/10 "2014-12-28T16:53:07Z")
Red polish on the claws of one, and light blue polish of the claws of the other. It will wear off, which is why they should each have a color. It should probably match their collars, so the colors are just examples. Obviously, you may have to get close up to see, so squaring the tail of one is a good idea. You will probably eventually learn to tell them apart, the way parents learn to tell their twins apart. They have differences, it’s just remembering which differences go with which twin. There were twins in my son’s preschool, and after seeing them every day, it became clear that there were small differences, but it was hard to remember which one had the cowlick that was further to the left, and which one had a squint to his right eye when he smiled. Also, they will learn their names (it takes cats longer than dogs, but they learn them), and you will be able to tell which one is responsive to which name. Don’t give them rhyming, or otherwise sound-alike names. ---
**Author:** ![corvidae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@corvidae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corvidae)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/11 "2014-12-28T16:56:11Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > We need pictures so we can judge the twinness. Also, it’s the Roolz. Seriously, these kiddos do not photograph well - it’s just an undifferentiated mass of black fur when the two of them are together. > [@](#): > > Trim the end of one tail square… FUR ONLY!!! Thanks, **Lorene89095** , I might try this - they only have little pointy rat tails right now, so it would make quite a difference. > [@](#): > > I think you’ll find that as you get to know them better and as they get bigger they won’t seem so identical. I know this will most likely be the case sooner or later ( I hope, anyway!), it’s just right now I’m having issues. It’s funny, between my husband and me, we’ve had our fair share of cats over the years, but we’re new to this situation. Thanks for all the suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/12 "2014-12-28T17:01:28Z")
You could get them microchipped, if you want to be absolutely sure (e.g. for keeping track of their medical history). ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/13 "2014-12-28T18:06:00Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Fight the stereotype! Give them the same name and act like you only have one cat. You win the thread. Bravo. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/14 "2014-12-28T18:41:54Z")
Different color collars, red & blue. Then name one Scarlett and one True. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/15 "2014-12-28T19:15:17Z")
absolutely NO nail polish. Cats sharpen their claws by drawing them through their teeth. Shave some fur off one of them in a visible spot. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/16 "2014-12-28T19:24:07Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Fight the stereotype! Give them the same name and act like you only have one cat. That’s what I was thinking! Why would you need to tell them apart? This is also the advice I give to parents who have twins. It would totally be my approach. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/17 "2014-12-28T19:25:41Z")
Might give us more ideas if we knew what their names were… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/18 "2014-12-28T19:27:12Z")
Microchip. When they are spayed get your vet to put a drop of tattoo ink in the incision of one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/19 "2014-12-28T19:29:16Z")
Photos or you don’t have kittens and are just teasing us. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361/20 "2014-12-28T19:39:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Microchip. When they are spayed get your vet to put a drop of tattoo ink in the incision of one. Dollars to doughnuts if they came from an reputable agency they’re already spayed and chipped. The chip reader costs about $350 so its kind of an expensive solution… And what **Second Stone** said. There are RULES, this isn’t Nam. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-advice-on-how-to-tell-black-kittens-apart/708361.md?page=2)