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Cats/Cat Anal Glands

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Expert: - 4/9/2009


Question
I have a 7 year old mixed breed male cat. His anal glands will not stop leaking. I've had him to the vet 3 times in the last 4 months. The first time they were impacted. The second and third time not much there at all said the vet. The vet said there is not much more she can do. It is bad. I wash him in the am and 8 hours later is backside is covered in that smelly stuff. Not to mention every time he sits down he leave a stain. Any ideas other than spending $600.00 to have them removed(vet said that the surgery may cause more problems)

Answer
Chris,

Have you considered seeking the advice of a holistic veterinarian? I would only suggest having the cat's anal glands removed as a last resort and there may be things that a holistic practitioner can do with natural remedies that could be helpful. A holistic veterinarian is trained in conventional medicine as well as one or more alternative therapies which may include homeopathy, acupuncture, Reiki or massage to name a few. My vet is a holistic practitioner and she uses homeopathy along with conventional medicine, I've been amazed more than once at the results homeopathic remedies have been responsible for in my cats. I'm not sure that a holistic vet will be able to completely cure this odd problem, but it's certainly worth a try.

In the meantime you could try using disposable or washable incontinence pads to cover furniture, bedding and carpeting to minimize/avoid stains. I believe that there are also pet diapers available, however your cat probably won't wear them because he'd have to be comfortable potentially urinating or defecating in the diaper. You may find that using an enzymatic cleaner will help to reduce the stains and permanently remove the odors caused by the leaking anal glands. An enzymatic cleaner differs from regular household cleaners, it uses beneficial bacteria (aka enzymes) to digest organic substances like urine, feces or vomit to permanently remove the odor and stains. I've found Petzyme to be quite effective and well priced, you can find this product at Petsmart. I usually buy my Petzyme from the dog section because they sell it by the gallon and the last time that I checked it was cheaper on a per milliliter basis than the small spray bottle of the same product labelled for cats sold in the cat section of the store. If you don't have a Petsmart in your area you can also check out  other pet supply stores, you can often find enzymatic cleaners marketed to clean up puppy potty training accidents. If you aren't able to find a good enzymatic cleaner in pet supply stores in your area you could check out a janitorial supply store, they often recommend the use of enzymatic cleaners be used clean up human body fluids.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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