Research overview: sex ratios and prenatal allocation in felids

The sex ratio of felid litters and any biases in maternal investment toward sons or daughters bear on population dynamics and evolutionary theory. This overview surveys evidence for sex ratio patterns at birth across cat species and considers whether maternal condition, social status, or environmental conditions skew offspring sex or differential investment. It reviews the challenges of detecting subtle biases given small litters and stochastic variation, and discusses relevant predictions from sex-allocation theory applied to species with male-biased dispersal like lions. The review weighs evidence cautiously, noting that strong, consistent sex ratio biases are difficult to establish. Understanding offspring sex allocation informs population modeling and the interpretation of reproductive data in managed and wild felids.