do cats need glands expressed

The overwhelming majority of cats don’t need you to do this at all and would very much appreciate it if you didn’t try. But some cats with chronic anal gland issues may need their glands expressed as often as every three to four weeks. Other cats will only need it when they’re showing signs of discomfort.

How Often Do A Cat’s Glands Need Expressing?

Dr. Simon says cats generally won’t need their glands expressed. Every time a domestic or wild cat passes a solid stool, their glands typically express themselves naturally. Stooling causes the glands to contract, causing secretions to flow out with the stool. Through these secretions, cats can mark their territory and let other cats know where they have been.

Only rarely do cats need regular gland expression. This usually only applies to cats who have persistent gland problems, though obese cats may be more susceptible to anal sac disease.

Regular diarrhea in cats can also make it difficult for them to adequately empty their anal glands, which needs solid stools. They might require manual expression at the veterinarian’s office or at home.

Fun fact: Your cat’s anal glands are related to those in skunks, but unlike skunks, cats can’t empty their glands voluntarily to leave scent. Cats seem to have lost this ability somewhere in evolution, so they can now only empty their glands when defecating.

Does Your Cat Need Their Glands Expressed?

Not sure how to tell if your cat needs their anal glands expressed? According to Dr. Simon, the most common signs you’ll notice include:

Butt scooting: Sometimes your cat will use their butt to scoot around the floor to clean it. However, if this behavior persists, it may indicate that they are irritated and uncomfortable as a result of clogged or infected anal glands.
An unpleasant, fishy smell: Your cat’s anal glands naturally release a potent scent that helps them mark their territory. However, if you smell something bad coming from their buttocks, it may indicate that the glands are infected and not emptying correctly.
Overgrooming of the genitalia and anals: You might observe that your cat starts grooming themselves more frequently. They might appear to be biting and licking their genital area all the time. These modifications to their grooming routines may indicate pain and discomfort resulting from inflamed anal glands.
Anal gland swelling and infection may be the cause of your cat’s painful defecation if they meow or yowl while using the litter box or appear to strain before passing a bowel movement. You may also notice bloody feces, constipation, or diarrhea. All of these indicate that you should plan a visit with your veterinarian.
Hard masses in the sac area: You will feel hard masses close to the sacs on either side of the anus if the glands clog. In order to facilitate the passage of these blockages, your veterinarian may prescribe a softening agent to be infused into the sac when they become too hard or dry to express normally.
Oozing sores next to anus: Your cat may have anal sac disease if there are bloody, pus-filled sores next to their anus. Your veterinarian can identify the ailment and suggest the best course of action to help avoid infection and tumors if you notice these sores.

That said, not all cats will show any obvious symptoms. Certain cats may not exhibit any symptoms of an impaction of the anal glands until an abscess has developed and burst. If this occurs, a hole next to the anus will be leaking pus and blood.

do cats need glands expressed

Cat Anal Gland Anatomy

There are two pea-sized anal glands around the rectal openings of cats, both male and female. Two tiny holes can be seen on either side of the anal opening from the exterior. Should the rectal aperture resemble a clock face, the anal glands would be positioned at approximately five and seven o’clock in relation to the rectum.

These tiny, visible apertures lead to the tiny, balloon-shaped anal sacs beneath a cat’s skin. When a cat pisses, these sacs fill with an unpleasant-smelling fluid that is released naturally. Normally, the glandular fluid is a liquid, but if something is wrong or the fluid is kept in the sacs for an extended period of time, it can thicken and become chunky or gritty.

FAQ

How do you know if your cat needs his glands squeezed?

Obsessive licking at the rectal opening and crying when defecating are also signs that there may be a problem with the glands. Finally, if you see blood in your cat’s feces or on the carpet after your cat scoots its hind end, this could be a sign of an anal gland issue as well.

How often do you have to express a cat’s glands?

The frequency with which you should express your cat’s anal glands depends entirely on your cat. For best results, the glands should be moderately full each time they are expressed (usually every 6 to 8 weeks). Anal gland expression is considered part of routine care and should be monitored regularly.

Do cat groomers express glands?

Groomers express anal glands differently from veterinarians. Groomers typically perform external anal gland expression, meaning that they put pressure on the outside of the glands to push the fluid out. This method may partially empty the glands, but some fluid can remain.

Can you remove cat scent glands?

Today, there is less of a need to do this, so these glands are underused. This can cause these fluids to accumulate in the glands, contributing to impaction, infection, and disease. Anal sacculectomy, or surgical removal of the anal gland(s), can cure these problems in cats.