Smelly Bum

[Roughquest]

My 13 week old kitty loves to be cuddled, and he purrs for England, but his rear end really stinks! I love to cuddle him but he loves to shove his bottom in my face and it really does stink, he is long haired and i have checked him over to see if he has any mess on him, but he is as clean as a whistle.....I can only hug him for a while before the smell gets really too bad to handle...why does he smell so much, i have had many cats and none of them had stinky bums at all...im totally mistified.

[crete]

yuk

[RATTER15]

I should get him to the vet, it could be an internal problem. Try phoning the vet first and discuss it with them, its free that way, and you wont get a bill unless you need a visit.

[Ava77]

I've had exactly the same problem with my kitty, but not all the time. She seems to go through phases. I remember reading a previous post about something similar, and some members said it was something to do with the anal glands (the two small holes either side of the bottom), if I recall correctly.

I believe it can be helped by pressing on the area with a tissue, but I've never come across a cat that would be passive enough to allow that!

I've not taken mine to the vet, as it comes and goes and she doesn't seem affected by it in the slightest. It just offends my nose! But if in doubt, then by all means ask the vet just to be sure, especially if it's a permanent problem.

[birdwoman]

when i first got my cat she used to deposit the most hideous smelling liquid all over the house from these glands. I took her to the vets and after some expense they couldn't find any reason for this. I simply changed her diet and took her off tinned wet food and put her onto the Hills dry food and the problem stopped instantly - worth a try!

[Roughquest]

I have heard that female cats rears stink, but my kitten is a boy.....he eats a dry complete food, but he is going to the vets anyway next week for his last vaccination so i will ask the vet then. Like i said before this is the first time i have encountered this with a kitten and i have always had cats.

Thanks for all your advice though, much appreciated as always. x