My cat's anus looks different. Is it serious? When to see a vet?

Yes, the redness could be due to irritation, and from your picture (thank you for providing one!) it doesn't look excessively red . It looks like normal mucosa to me (the membrane that lines the anal cavity), and I would not be concerned about it :-)

There is nothing I would be worried about as the anus seems only mildly inflamed. Usually this is caused by softer feces/diarrhoea. I would recommend to start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

Because Sombra hasn't had wet food before, it could be this causing her red and swollen anus. But it could also be due to something else like intestinal worms. Based on the picture, I think having her seen by a vet before you leave is the best idea. You don't want it to get worse while you are gone, so having her seen before you leave will give you peace of mind on your trip. Call the vet today to make an appointment. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is unlikely to be something of concern and most likely represents a region of pigmentation. However, I recommend you keep a close eye on it and if at some point it appears to become a mass, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Smokey! I am concerned that it could be a ruptured anal gland abscess. I recommend that you have Smokey seen today by a Vet especially since it looks worse today. His anal glands should be checked and if a ruptured anal gland it should be assess to see if surgery is indicated. Otherwise they are treated with an E-collar, antibiotics and pain medications. You can always post a picture, I'd be happy to look at it. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using PetCoach. I’m sorry to hear about Lulu! Some mild protrusion during defecation and for a minute after is not uncommon and is usually nothing the worry about. However, I always deworm these guys anyways, as roundworms are a common cause of rectal prolapse. Something like this usually works if that’s the problem. VIP - TM-_-58700003271149947&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos={adpos}&scid=scplp1246100&sc_intid=1246100&kwid=p27187667103&device=m&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoujYo_P72QIVj2p-Ch3FMwYjEAQYASABEgJ_ofD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Her stools look slightly soft which can also exacerbate this problem so I’d add 1 tsp benefiber powder to each meal. (Shouldn’t be a problem for the hypoallergenic trial.) If you are seeing more than 5mm of red anal tissue or it is staying “out” for more than 2 minutes, it’s time to see the vet. Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Lulu.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Maty. Sometimes anal gland material and can dry up and be present near the gland opening at the anus. The red spot in your final picture appears to be separate from the anus though. In this case, an anal gland abscess or infection could be the cause. This is a painful condition and can cause difficulty defecating. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian to determine if treatment is necessary. I hope this information helps!