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My cat's anus is swollen, but not prolapsed. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Devon Rex | Female | spayed | 6 years and 7 months old

Cats anus is slightly swollen but definitely not prolapsed yet, what should we do?

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 14th, 2016

If your pets anal area is swollen and there was diarrhea before this happened, then there are two possible scenarios here

1) Your pet has severe colitis and needs antibiotics (Metronidazole helps with GI issues and inflammation of the gut) prescribed by a veterinarian. They will also recommend a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice or cottage cheese or a low fat dog formula like Hill's I/D or over the counter Purina EN Gastrointestinal and potential probiotics (you can try Culturelle it works great).

2) If the swelling is actually to the side of the anus then this could be an impacted anal gland- which also should be treated and express by a veterinarian.

10Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
The underlying cause for it needs to be diagnosed and treated. Anal gland impaction or persistent diarrhoea/ loose feces are common possible causes for it. I would recommend to take her to your veterinarian for a check up.
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Unfortunately, without seeing your kitty's anus, I cannot give you precise advice. Your kitty's anal sacs may be impacted or overly full and might need to mbe examined by a vet, and possibly emptied. If your cat is licking the area excessively, if the anus is discolored, red, looks inflamed, then that would certainly point to such a problem. There may be other reasons, but without seeing the area, I cannot say. Best schedule a vet appointment for a "hands-on" exam.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 24th, 2018
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging from the pictures, the anal area does not look concerning to me at this time. I would continue to watch Mindy for the time being. If you notice the area becoming more red or if Mindy has developed any new symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, etc.) I would recommend having her examined by a veterinarian sooner rather than later. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
13Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Published on November 8th, 2017
Pictures can be deceiving, especially when it comes to dimension, but it appears pretty normal to me. However, straining to defecate can cause mild to severe anal prolapse. I would recommend having a fecal exam done to look for any parasites. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My cat's anus is red and swollen but she acts normal. What's wrong?

Poor girl. So it seems that Lela has a moderate amount of colon inflammation and a little bit of the colon is actually prolapsed (pushing outward). She should be seen by your vet immediately to have this area evaluated in person and determine if she needs to have this surgically repaired. I hope that you get some resolve soon for Lela and I am hoping for a full and speedy recovery. It is amazing what cats can go through and not seem to be affected by. They are truly the masters at hiding discomfort and pain. But we have to not use that as a ticket to avoiding proper veterinary care. The vet may even want to prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication to see if they can get this to reduce in size. Best wishes at the vet. Take care.

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Swelling of the anus/rectum could be due to constipation/hard stools, anal gland issues, allergies, irritation, or other problems. You would need to have the area looked at by your vet to determine what is going on and get the appropriate treatment. Be sure to let your vet known of any other issues you may have seen such as changes in appetite, energy levels, stool habits, etc. You can also use an Elizabethan (cone) collar to prevent your cat from licking/chewing at the affected area if it is bothersome until you can get to your vet.

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It will go down one the stools become normal, i suspect at the moment he is suffering from diarrhea and this is why the anus looks like that, once the stools become normal again the anus will recover.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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5-week-old kitten has diarrhea and a swollen anus. What should I do?

My biggest immediate concern would be for intestinal parasites. Most kittens have them, and if she hasn't seen a vet yet and been dewormed, she needs to. She's suffering pretty significant fluid losses for a tiny creature. Make an appointment tomorrow, and bring a stool sample with you, so that the type of parasite can be determined and appropriate treatment started.

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Why is my 12-year-old cat's anus swollen and he keeps licking?

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My cat has diarrhea, swollen nipples, and a red area when pooping.

I would recommend that you have Princess seen by your veterinarian. A rectal prolapse may need surgical correction and will get worse with time, if left untreated. Diarrhea can exacerbate a prolapse. An infection with a parasite called coccidia can cause diarrhea and causes enough irritation in some pets to cause a prolapse. Your veterinarian may recommend checking a stool sample to see if this is part of the problem. I would also recommend that you have Princess spayed to prevent future litters of kittens. Unspayed female cats are at higher risk for developing mammary cancer later in life and uterine infections.

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Health & Wellness

My cat's rectum is swollen and bleeding. What home remedies help?

I can't tell exactly what is goin on from the picture. If the rectum is actually prolapsed (like a little tube sticking out) then Blaze really needs medical attention. If it is just swollen and irritated, then the best you can do is to keep it clean with a wet wash cloth. This problem is often associated with diarrhea. The straining during diarrhea can push the colon out, and it will not heal normally without curing the diarrhea. If the prolapse does not resolve on its own, the pet may need surgery. Common causes for diarrhea in a kitten include food intolerance or allergies, intestinal parasites, bacterial or viral gastroenteritis, among a few others. Here is an article you may find helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/rectal-prolapse-protruding-rectum-in-the-cat/

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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