My senior cat has a swollen, red bottom. Why does she lick it so much?

Question

Our 13 year old, indoor, female cat, Zena, appears to have a swollen, "bottom." She licks the area frequently. Zena does not appear to be in any pain, is eating her hard food and drinking her water, as normal. She is having regular bowel movements. Her stool appears to be hard, normal in color, and no more than 2 inches long. Her bottom is red, and the surrounding fur is a bit matted from frequent washing of the area. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Female | spayed | 12 years and 5 months old | 12 lbs

Ana M, DVM · Accepted Answer

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Zena. I would recommend that she sees her veterinarian to have her anal glands examined. These are glands that sit just under the skin on either side of the anus. They are supposed to express everytime the animal defecates. However, they can become blocked or infected. This is uncomfortable for the cat resulting is licking or scooting. The veterinarian can express the material of the glands are too full. Occasionally the gland will rupture due to infection. In this case, the gland needs to be flushed out and the patient requires medication. Of course, there could be something else going on which is why she needs to be examined. I hope this information helps!

My senior cat has a swollen, red bottom. Why does she lick it so much?

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