My long-haired cat has poop stuck under tail. Should I be concerned?

A little added fiber or a daily pet probiotic can help firm up loose stools, however bringing a stool sample into the vet to rule out anything such as parasites or an underlying illness causing it is a good idea. In some cases, even normal stools can sometimes get stuck on long-haired cats. Gently trimming the area to make it less easy for stool to stick, or using a pet wipe after Pockey gets out of the litter box before the stool can dry may help make it easier to clean.

Thank you for submitting your question Bosbos. He appears to have eaten a hair or thread. You can try to remove it with very gentle pressure. If it does not does come out, do not pull harder. It could be stuck to his intestines. If you cannot easily remove it, then he should see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would not pull on the hair and I would let it pass on its own. If it is just a single piece of long hair, your cat should be able to pass it on his/her own. If your cat ever becomes inappetant, vomits or has diarrhea, these may be signs of a gastrointestinal obstruction, which is a surgical emergency. It is possible the hair is attached to something else inside your cat's gastrointestinal system which could potentially cause an obstruction. If your cat is otherwise healthy and acting OK, I would simply monitor his feces for the passing of the hair. I hope this is helpful!

It is hard to tell for sure whether this is poop or a growth; however, at this age dried poop is more probable. You can try some KY jelly or Vaseline massages on it for a few days to see if it softens up and falls off. You may also need to do a mild soap and water rinse on the area, if tolerated. This is seen a lot with cats. The poop gets stuck to the mucosa as it exits the rectum and then just sits there for a period of time. As long as the skin itself is not red or irritated looking, or excessive licking ensues, then its fine to try to resolve this on your own. I must also mention though, there is a good chance this will repeat itself, so weekly or bi-weekly maintenance may be needed to help remove the feces and prevent further infections to develop on the skin. I hope this helps and best wishes with your pet Smoak moving forward! Take care.

Once the stool is dried and stuck to the skin, it can be difficult and painful to remove. Clipping or shaving it is not recommended as your cat could react negatively and you may accidentally cause injury. If your cat will allow, apply a warm compress to the area for 10-15 minutes. Once the stool has softened, you should be able to safely remove it. If not, consider a visit to your veterinarian for additional assistance. There could be an underlying medical condition for [soft stool](https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-real-scoop-what-is-your-cat-s-poop-telling-you/), if present, or [lack of grooming](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-has-my-cat-stopped-grooming) which may be contributing to the issue.

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I do not think you have too much to be concerned about. Sometimes a piece of litter will stick to the hair around the rectum or penis, & rather than groom it off, a cat will scoot. However, with the report that Pumpkin has had a loose stool in the past month, I would not be surprised if he had some intestinal parasites, possibly roundworms, or tapeworms. No emergency to have him seen by your veterinarian, just take him in at your convenience. Take care.

He could be having difficult defecating due to the extra hair around his anus. You can use grooming clippers (not scissors!) to trim the hair on his backside and under the tail, or find a groomer for a sanitary clip. I recommend a supplement for hairballs, like Laxatone, that will help bind hairballs so they can pass. You may also consider daily brushing, as this will help Mr. Josie get rid of loose hair so that he doesn't ingest as much. However, what you have described could be a sign of constipation. Often times loose stool will move around the harder stool in the colon, and this fluid can have a very foul odor. Mr. Josie may need to see the vet to confirm constipation and receive appropriate treatment.