Cat

[gilby]

I have a 4 year old cat. She is the friendliest most confidant cat i have ever known. I had her spayed last year when i got her from a cat sanctuary. Recently when i pick her up she has leaked on me. It has a blackish colour to it and smells so pungent that i smell it even hours after i wash. Is she urinating or scenting???

[Litchick]

Blackish colour??? Even if she were scenting it wouldn't (or shouldn't be) black. Even though urinating and scenting are different actions, the liquid (for lack of a better word) is the same -- they are both urine. If I am giving wrong information, I hope other ABers let me know, but to my knowledge neither urinating or scenting should be black. Please call the vet right away!

[drgnrdr]

Think it might be anal glands leaking, when you pick up the cat press her bottom to you and she has the glands squeezed? But I would say get her to a vet, even if it's anal glands, I don't think it's black that comes out, sounds like close to blood or to much iron? I don't know since I'm not a vet..

[Coobeastie]

Is it entirely black or had black specks in it.

If the latter sounds like blocked anal glands. One of our cats (Blackberry) gets it ever so often. Stinks to high heaven and we've nicknamed it cheesing as it smells like really bad cheese. Makes you want to gag.

We took her to the vets who then had the enviable task of poking blackberrys bottom.

[gilby]

Thanks everyone. It turns out it was blocked anal glands. it is all sorted now and i am to keep an eye on things. If it returns she has to back to the vets the to empty it ugh

[drgnrdr]

Well great, glad my first guess was correct and that's all it was. You might want to add a bit of fiber to her diet normally these glands are expressed when they go poo, but if the stool is soft it can't be squeezed out, and it gets full, or your cat has a genetic predisposition to have anal gland problems. Ask your vet for preventative tips.