How to stop poop from sticking to my long-haired Persian cat's fur?

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 regarding Coco. I recommend that she has what is known as a sanitary clip. This is when the veterinarian or groomer shaves her hind end. She can be shaved under and around her tail and the back of her legs. This will help to keep her clean. I hope this information helps!

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.

I'm sorry to hear that Kiki is having these problems. I think there are a few things you can do. First, you might consider trying some different types of litter. Something like pelleted litter ( http://www.felinepine.com ) might work better for her. I would also make sure that the boxes are not covered since that can make it harder for cats to get positioned correctly. You may also consider an automatically cleaning litter box to make sure that the box is always clean. I would also consider having a veterinarian or groomer shave the area under her tail (called a sanitary patch) to help prevent litter from sticking to her fur there. Good luck! I hope that was helpul. Thanks for using PetCoach.

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.

It could be that your cat never learned to clean herself as a kitten, or just doesn't realize she has stuff stuck to her fur. Longer haired cats can also get things stuck easily. Keeping the area trimmed and wiping down her bottom with a pet wipe or baby wipe can help keep her cleaner.

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.