My cat's bum leaks smelly liquid when picked up. Are anal glands full?

It sounds like it may be fluid from the anal glands. Most cats do not have anal gland issues but some do. I recommend to have the anal glands expressed by his veterinarian. He may need this done periodically. There is also a supplement called Glandex that will help his body to naturally express the glands during a bowel movement. You will feed this to him every day. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It could be dis charge from his anal glands. Normally, the glands are emptied during the act of defecation. Sometimes though, the glands become impacted then infected. An abscess will form then eventually rupture and drain. If there is no redness, swelling or discharge around the anus, look for swelling elsewhere. If he is an outdoor cat, a bite wound abscess is a possibility. They can be difficult to spot without a close exam and maybe shaving a swollen area. Ideally, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian. Especially if he is lethargic, feverish or not eating.

I would not say that the secretions from the anal sacs generally remind me of garlic but I would also argue everyone interprets things differently. Since Eden seems normal in every other way, try washing off his rectal area and the under side of his tail to remove any secretions present. If the smell remains, his anal sacs may need to be expressed and your veterinarian may be able to do this pending Eden’s temperamental. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If the brown liquid was very smelly (like rotten eggs mixed with poop) then she likely expressed her anal glands. Anal glands are scent glands inside the anus that are expressed with defecation. If she was scared suddenly they can accidentally release the anal gland material. The other possibility is that she is starting with diarrhea and some leaked out. Keep an eye on the litter box and see how her stools are. If you see diarrhea then I would bring a sample to your Vet and have her seen. I hope this helps and I wish Luna Girl the best!

This sounds like anal sac fluid. It has a nasty fishy odor. The anal sacs are like scent glands and they discharge fluid occasionally. This is normal although most animals do it when they defecate so it’s not on the bedding. Other than having the anal sac surgically removed, which I do not recommend, there is nothing I know of to prevent this. I recommend placing a towel or small blanket on the bed where she lays so you can wash it often and keep your bed clean. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bella.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The most common fluid leaked from the anus is anal gland fluid. It can leak out when the glands are full or if something scares the cat, they can express them. The anal glands normally are expressed during defecation. I would have the anal glands checked by your Vet. If he is starting to spray around the house I would have him neutered. I hope this helps and I wish you the best!

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This appears to be a possible anal gland abscess rupture. This is a spontaneous thing that can happen in pets with anal gland problems, where the anal glands fill up and are not able to express normally. We think this is caused by an underlying allergy, which can be discussed with your vet. Sometimes giving your pet a high fiber diet can help prevent reoccurence. Peanut Butter needs to see your vet for a short course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine to help this wound heal properly. He may also need the anal gland to be flushed thoroughly while under a mild sedative. I would recommend scheduling an appt for him soon to get this taken care of. In the meantime, you can purchase an e-collar from your local pet store and place it on him to deter him from licking the area and making the inflammation/irritation worse. Poor guy. I hope he gets this resolved soon and is able to go back to his normal self. Best of luck and take care.