I used my real full name so I had to vote male, but I also used the same first name as my commander's first name and with all the talk of avatars... let's just say I haven't yet decided the gender of my avatar and a lot depends on how FD implement them. So maybe in the 32nd or 33rd century we'll find that Mark is a unisex name
As for the idea of someone 'owning' a cat, I had to laugh. Don't you know the old saying that dogs have owners, cats have staff.
I'm glad you put the 'owned' in apostrophes. I've shared a home with many cats over the years, and never did I think I 'owned' any of them... quite the reverse, in fact. Beautiful critters, are cats!