Dear Cathy, About six months after adopting our cat, Harmony, she started leaving a strong odor behind on anything she laid on. While we haven’t confirmed she’s urinating on surfaces, there’s definitely a smell that isn’t normal. Our current vet shaved her bottom, and we limited her food consumption to help her lose weight.
The vet tested her urine for bladder, kidney, and UTI issues; everything came back clear. Despite all this — and my wife washing Harmony’s bottom almost daily to manage the smell — we’re still dealing with the issue. Harmony has bunched hair near her backside, which we regularly trim, but she resists being touched near that area, even growling or trying to bite.
What should we do next? — Bob, Loganville, Pennsylvania Dear Bob, Harmony’s weight may be affecting her ability to properly groom herself, as indicated by the bunched hair near her backside. As a result, she could have blocked anal glands. If these glands aren’t naturally expressed, they can become impacted or infected, leading to the kind of smell you’re describing and possibly causing the sensitivity she shows when touched near her back end.
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Ask your vet to show you how to express her anal glands, as this may need to be done regularly at home. Daily cleaning and expressing the glands can reduce the odor significantly and help keep her more comfortable. Grooming wipes designed for cats can also be a convenient way to keep her clean between these s.