- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Your cat’s anal glands probably aren’t a favorite topic of conversation. Still, if you’re a cat parent, it’s important to learn how to tell if your cat needs their anal glands expressed.
One common sign? Your cat starts scooting, or dragging their butt across the floor.
Most cats express their own glands after a bowel movement and have no anal gland issues, says Dr. Linda Simon, MVB, a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. But in some cases, a gland becomes clogged. If left unexpressed, clogged anal glands can eventually cause infections, abscesses and ruptured skin.
A veterinarian can always express your cat’s glands for you, and this routine procedure generally won’t break the bank. But if your cat needs their glands expressed regularly, you can learn to safely do this at home—which can prevent complications from clogged glands, not to mention save your carpet.
Does Your Cat Need Their Glands Expressed?
Not sure how to tell if your cat needs their anal glands expressed? According to Dr. Simon, the most common signs you’ll notice include:
- Butt scooting: Your cat may occasionally shuffle their butt along the floor to clean it. But if this behavior happens often, it could mean they’re experiencing discomfort and irritation due to blocked or infected anal glands.
- A foul, fishy odor: Your cat naturally produces a strong scent from their anal glands, which allows them to mark their territory. But if you notice an unpleasant smell coming from their rear end, this could mean the glands are infected and not emptying properly.
- Excessive genital and anal grooming: You may notice your cat begins to groom themselves more often. It may seem as if they’re constantly licking and biting their genital area. These changes in their grooming habits could suggest pain and discomfort from inflamed anal glands.
- Painful defecation with straining: Does your cat meow or yowl while using the box or seem to strain before passing a bowel movement? This could mean their anal glands have become swollen and infected. You may also notice bloody feces, constipation, or diarrhea. These are all good signs to schedule a visit with your vet.
- Hard masses in sac area: If the glands become clogged, you will feel hard masses near the sacs on either side of the anus. When these blockages are too hard or dry to express normally, your veterinarian may prescribe a softening agent, which they will infuse into the sac to help it pass.
- Oozing sores next to anus: Bloody, pus-filled sores next to your cat’s anus can develop as a sign of anal sac disease. If you notice these sores, your vet can diagnose the condition and recommend the right treatment to help prevent infection and tumors.
That said, not all cats will show any obvious symptoms. Some cats won’t show any signs of an anal gland impaction until an abscess has formed and ruptured. If this happens, you’ll notice blood and pus coming from a hole beside the anus.
How Often Do A Cat’s Glands Need Expressing?
Dr. Simon says cats generally won’t need their glands expressed. All cats—domestic and wild—usually express their glands naturally each time they pass a solid stool. Pooping squeezes the glands so the secretions come out alongside the stool. Cats can communicate via these secretions to outline their territory and tell other cats where they’ve been.
Only rarely do cats need regular gland expression. This is generally only the case for cats who have ongoing issues with their glands, though cats with obesity may be more likely to develop anal sac disease.
Cats with frequent diarrhea may also have trouble emptying their anal glands properly, since this requires a solid stool. They may need manual expression, either at home or the vet’s office.
Fun fact: Your cat’s anal glands are related to those in skunks, but unlike skunks, cats can’t empty their glands voluntarily to leave scent. Cats seem to have lost this ability somewhere in evolution, so they can now only empty their glands when defecating.
Do You Need To See A Vet?
If you notice your cat needs their anal glands expressed but aren’t sure you’re ready to do this yourself, don’t worry! It’s a personal choice for every pet parent, and some people find it just a little too much.
A veterinarian—and plenty of groomers—can handle this procedure for you. Depending on where you live, it’ll cost roughly between $10 and $30, according to Dr. Simon.
If your cat needs this procedure done regularly, however, these costs can add up. So, it could be worth learning to handle it yourself at home.
How To Express A Cat’s Anal Glands At Home
If you can tell that your cat needs their glands expressed, your vet can show you how to do this safely. It’s always best to have them guide you through the process the first time.
Dr. Simon has also shared her expertise in this step-by-step guide to expressing your cat’s glands at home:
- Start by finding a helper. One person can work up front by holding your cat and helping keep them calm. The other can work at the back end.
- Consider doing the expression in the bathtub or shower to save time when cleaning up. You’ll also want to grab some paper towels or cleaning rags. Disposable gloves are essential!
- If you have a cat with long hair, you may want to use some clippers to remove excess fur around the anus.
- Then, to find your cat’s anal glands, feel directly to the right and left of your cat’s anus. If these pea-sized sacs are blocked, they will feel like hard lumps. You’ll want to make sure to keep your cat’s tail out of the way too.
- Keeping your cat’s tail out of the way, gently begin pressing as your helper holds your cat still. You’ll press gently on your cat’s anal sacs, in an upward motion, until the liquid comes out.
- Once the liquid has been expressed, use a damp paper towel, cat wipe, or rag to gently clean the area around your cat’s anus and any soiled fur nearby. If your cat will tolerate it, you might also try gently pouring some lukewarm water over the area for a more thorough clean.
- Use the paper towels to mop up the fluid. If you notice any blood or pus in this secretion, you’ll want to call your vet right away, since this could point to an infection.
If your cat becomes very distressed as you attempt this, they could be in pain. What’s more, some cats simply won’t tolerate this procedure at home either. In these cases, it’s best to consult the professionals!
What Happens If A Cat’s Glands Aren’t Expressed?
Complications of clogged anal glands include:
Anal abscesses
Untreated anal glands can lead to abscesses in and around your cat’s anus, which can rupture out through their skin. These abscesses can ooze with pus and blood and be very messy to deal with—not to mention highly uncomfortable for your cat. If you believe your cat has an anal abscess, take them to the vet as soon as possible. Your vet can prescribe antibiotics to treat any infection and pain medication to ease your cat’s discomfort.
Anal sac disease
Your vet will check for anal sac disease by examining the glands to search for clogs and hard masses. They may also recommend additional tests to check for infections or tumors. Cancerous tumors may require chemotherapy, while non-cancerous and benign polyps may need surgical removal.
Treatment
These complications will require vet care, which will likely include a combination of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and pain relief.
Your vet may also administer a softening agent into the sacs and recommend bathing abscesses with warm salt water. They may also suggest having your cat wear an Elizabethan collar to prevent licking
Can You Reduce How Often A Cat’s Glands Need Emptying?
If your cat has chronic loose stool, your vet will take steps to address this by first determining the cause of the loose stool and then treating the issue by prescribing antibiotics, a hypoallergenic diet, or regular parasite prevention.
It may also help to feed your cat a nourishing high-fiber cat food. You can also check with your vet about adding fiber supplements and probiotics to the diet. These supplements can help ensure their poop stays solid to help improve natural gland expression.
In some cases, your vet might recommend a sacculectomy to permanently remove the anal glands—particularly if your cat has anal sac disease and frequently needs their glands expressed. Though this is a simple procedure, it does involve some risk of future complications with bowel movements. If your vet does recommend this surgery, they’ll explain the potential risks beforehand.