Cat Anal Glands: Everything You Need to Know

Published on 10/01/2024

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Cat anal glands probably aren’t leading anyone’s list of favorite health topics to talk about. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore them. Though rare, cat anal gland issues can (literally) become a pain in the butt for cats and a costly health concern for pet parents.

Unfortunately, most pet parents don’t know much about these hardworking glands until something goes wrong. And, by that point, your pet may need emergency veterinary care.

To help you avoid that fate, here’s what you need to know about your cat’s anal glands. You’ll learn what they are, where they are, and how to care for them. Plus, we’ll cover what can go wrong, how to recognize problem signs, and what you can do about it.

What are Cat Anal Glands?

Cat anal glands are the two small sacs located near the anus on a cat butt — right around four o’clock and eight o’clock if you imagine your cat’s anus as the center of a clock. These glands, also called anal sacs, store smelly, brown fluid created by the sweat-like glandular cells lining the sacs.

This fluid works as a chemical scent marker, much like a skunk’s spray. Cats use it to mark their territory, identify what cats are where, and even warn or defend against predators.

When your cat poops (defecates), the pressure of the poop moving through the anus squeezes the sacs. This releases a smelly secretion called the cat anal gland discharge.

Cats who are defecating normally will naturally express their own anal sacs. Cats rarely need assistance with expression of anal glands, but if something is wrong, they may need help temporarily.

What Causes Cat Anal Gland Problems?

Anal gland issues in cats are very rare, affecting only 0.4 percent of cats. (1) However, there are several very common conditions that can cause anal gland problems to develop. These include:

Chronic diarrhea
Obesity
Chronic constipation
Irritable bowel syndrome
Food allergies
Atopy (itchy skin) due to allergies, fleas, and/or the environment
Neurologic disease (e.g., anus cannot close properly due to nerve or muscle changes)
Cancer (known as anal sac adenocarcinoma)

Types of Anal Gland Disorders in Cats

If these conditions cause anal gland disorders in your cat, there are four types cats commonly face:

Anal Gland Inflammation – When your cat’s skin becomes inflamed, it can cause their anal glands to become swollen and inflamed, as well. This is common in cases of allergies or skin diseases.
Anal Gland Impaction – This is the most common anal gland disorder. If your cat’s anal sacs are impacted, that means they cannot release anal gland fluid like they are supposed to. This painful condition can occur if your cat is not pooping regularly, or if their anal secretions thicken due to inflammation.
Anal Gland Infection – Impacted feline anal glands often become infected. This happens when secretions build up in the glands and bacterial infection sets in, creating an anal gland abscess. It’s also possible for yeast infections to develop in anal glands if your cat has a skin disease.
Anal Gland Rupture. If your cat’s anal glands become inflamed, impacted, and infected, they can rupture. This is the body’s way of trying to rid itself of infection by creating an “emergency exit” to release the anal gland secretions through a hole in the skin near a cat’s anus. This condition can be painful and quite severe. It requires more urgent treatment than the other forms of anal gland issues mentioned above.

Anal gland disorders can develop in both male and female cats of any age or breed. However, British shorthairs and male cats may be predisposed to anal gland issues, compared to other cats. (1) Adults are also more likely to develop anal gland disorders than kittens.

How to Tell Something Is Wrong with a Cat’s Anal Glands

Before anal gland issues occur, most cats have changes in pooping habits whether they are constipated or having diarrhea. Sometimes, your cat has changes in her skin or fur coat prior to anal gland issues starting. Once the issues begin, the earliest symptoms are behavior changes.

Symptoms of anal gland issues include:

Cat scooting, or cat dragging butt on the ground
Overgrooming or biting at the rear end and tail base area
Matting of fur around the anus
Reluctance to sit or poop – your cat might go in and out of the litter box before finally pooping
Straining to poop
Discharge, redness, or swelling around the anus

If you notice any of these warning signs or behaviors, schedule a visit with your veterinarian for an evaluation. Your vet can help determine whether your cat’s anal glands are in danger of becoming overly full or impacted, which could lead to rupture.

If your cat seems very uncomfortable and you notice redness, swelling, and/or a foul discharge near the anus, seek emergency veterinary care immediately. Anal gland rupture is painful, and infection can make your cat feel very sick.

Do Cats Need Anal Glands Expressed?

Cats do not need their anal glands expressed unless there is an issue. Normally, cats naturally express their anal glands every time they poop. So it’s unnecessary to intervene unless you notice the symptoms described above. And even then, it’s important to work with your vet to determine whether anal gland issues are the culprit.

Typically, when anal gland issues occur, your veterinarian will recommend weekly expression for about three to six weeks.

How to Treat Problems with Anal Glands in Cats

Make a veterinary appointment right away if you see symptoms of feline anal sac problems. Allowing time to pass without treatment will likely result in the rupture of glands, which is painful and more serious, as well as more expensive.

If you suspect your cat has ruptured their anal glands, seek urgent or emergent care immediately. Your cat can develop serious infection and fever if left untreated.

Your vet will take a history of your cat’s symptoms and conduct a thorough physical exam to determine the cause of the anal gland problems, as well as the best treatment.

Treatment options for anal gland issues may include:

Anal gland expression in cats – Your vet or a qualified vet tech will express your cat’s anal glands by applying gentle pressure to empty them. Some cats may need to be sedated, especially if the glands are really swollen. Typically, this treatment will continue weekly for several weeks.
Antibiotics – If your cat’s anal glands are inflamed, infected, or ruptured, your vet will prescribe oral or injected antibiotics. In some cases, your vet may inject the medicine directly into the anal glands to treat the infection quickly. This will also require sedation for your cat.
Pain medicine – If the anal gland has ruptured, your vet will prescribe pain medication, as this can be very painful in cats.
Laser therapy – If the anal glands are inflamed, this can be used to decrease inflammation in the area.

If there’s an underlying issue causing your cat’s anal gland issues, your vet will also recommend immediate or long-term treatment options. These may include:

Weight loss if your cat is obese
Special diet, either for food allergies (e.g., limited ingredient diets) or for chronic diarrhea or constipation (e.g., food with different/more fiber)
Anti-inflammatories or other medications intended to decrease inflammation from allergic skin disease
Flea treatment
Surgery to remove the anal glands (for repeated impaction or infection that does not respond to medical therapy, or in cases of cancer)

Surgery will not be recommended unless multiple attempts at treatment have failed to prevent the issue from recurring. This is a major procedure and would likely be performed by a specialist. Long-term complications are rare but could include fecal incontinence, a chronic hole near the anus that is difficult to treat (fistula), or tightening of the anus making pooping difficult.

There are some home remedies that may help cats with anal gland problems. But pet parents should never rely solely on home remedies to treat anal gland issues in cats.

Always visit your vet first for a proper diagnosis. If you plan to use any home remedies in addition to your vet-recommended treatment plan, be sure to get your vet’s approval first.

Things you can do at home that may help your cat heal from anal gland issues include:

Switching to a lower-fat and higher-fiber diet to increase the bulk or size of poop, prevent diarrhea, and prevent obesity
Adding a fiber supplement to your cat’s diet (e.g., 1/4-1/2 teaspoon psyllium once or twice per day)
Applying a warm compress or washcloth to your cat’s anus/butt area twice daily for 5-7 days

Tips to Promote Healthy Cat Anal Gland Function

To protect the health of your cat’s anal glands and prevent future problems, here are some steps pet parents can take:

Seek veterinary care if your cat has diarrhea for more than two days or has not pooped in three days. While nothing may be wrong with their anal glands yet, the longer these conditions go untreated, the greater the risk of anal gland issues developing.
Not all cats need probiotics. But if your cat has recurring bouts of diarrhea or constipation, you may want to consider adding a probiotic supplement to help promote healthy digestion.
If your cat is missing fur, is scratching and chewing their skin, or develops crusty, red patches, seek veterinary care.
Keep your cat at a healthy weight. Feed your feline a high-quality diet that fits the AAFCO nutrient profile for their age and stage of life. Measure how much your cat eats, and adjust the amount if you notice any weight gain. Ask your vet for feeding recommendations to ensure your cat maintains a healthy weight.
Apply year-round flea preventives.

Anal glands are an important part of your cat’s anatomy. Though rare, anal gland problems can develop in cats, which could greatly impact your cat’s health.

Always consult your veterinarian at the first sign of problems with your cat’s anal glands, which can range from cat scooting to severe pain and discharge. With your veterinarian’s help, you can treat anal gland issues quickly and effectively to prevent them from becoming more serious.