What Is That Discharge Coming from My Cat’s Butt?

Our question this week was:

My cat has a secretion coming either from her vagina or her anus. She drips after going to the bathroom. It started after we moved from one country to another.

She is very fat, so she doesn’t reach to clean herself. She was eating Hill’s Science Diet and we changed to Prescription Science r/d. What do you think this could be? Thank you.

Anabella Lewin

Answer

Hi Anabella,

Thanks for your email.

Your question was “Why is my cat having a secretion that comes from her bottom after she goes to the bathroom.” You also noted that she is “obese.”

To be honest, this is difficult to answer without seeing your cat. There are a few possibilities that I’ll discuss below. Your best bet is to see your veterinarian to determine the underlying cause.

If possible, the next time your cat goes to the bathroom and does this, gently wipe her bottom and note the character and smell of the discharge. This may help tell you what it is.

The possibilities are:

• Urine. It is not common for a cat to keep dribbling urine after she goes to the bathroom, unless she has Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. Normal urine can be relatively clear to yellow and smells like urine. Some urinary problems may lead to bloody discharge.
• Feces. This should be obvious. It would be dark and fecal colored on a tissue. If she is having diarrhea, you could see some seepage. Obese cats can have difficulty cleaning and may have some rectal soiling.
• Vaginal discharge. This is uncommon in spayed female cats but can occur with vaginitis. Vaginitis is usually associated with additional signs, such as excessive licking (or attempts to lick) the vaginal area. This discharge can be a variety of colors and may or may not have an odor.
• Cat anal gland discharge. There are two anal glands located on each side of the rectum. There is normally some discharge released with a normal bowel movement. Some cats can have small amounts of anal gland discharge, but I would not expect “drips.” On a tissue, this discharge can be yellow to brown and has a very foul odor.

Could This Be Anal Gland Discharge in Cats?

One common, and very smelly, cause of moisture or staining around the rear end is the anal gland discharge cats experience when their anal sacs don’t empty properly. Cats have two small anal glands located at roughly the 4 and 8 o’clock positions just inside the anus. Normally, a small amount of fluid is released during a firm bowel movement. Most pet parents never notice it.

However, if the stool is consistently soft, if a cat is overweight and inactive, or if the glands don’t empty efficiently, the fluid can build up. When this happens, you may notice a sudden foul odor, brown or yellow staining on bedding, or small “drips” after your cat uses the litter box. The smell is typically very strong and fishy. In some cases, cats may scoot, lick excessively at their rear end, or seem uncomfortable sitting.

If the discharge becomes thick, bloody, or accompanied by swelling near the anus, an anal gland impaction or infection could be developing. These conditions require veterinary treatment. Your veterinarian can manually express the glands and determine whether medication is needed.

When to Worry About Discharge from the Anus

If you’re noticing cat discharge from the anus that seems persistent, excessive, or abnormal in color or odor, it’s important to have your veterinarian evaluate it. While minor rectal soiling can occur in obese cats who have difficulty grooming themselves, true discharge is less common and may signal an underlying issue.

Watch for additional signs such as:

• Straining in the litter box
• Blood or mucus in the stool
• Diarrhea
• Scooting or licking at the rear
• Pain when touched near the tail

Because you mentioned your cat is overweight and recently experienced a move and diet change, stress and dietary shifts could also be contributing to softer stools, which may worsen leakage from the rectal area. Continuing with a veterinarian-guided weight loss plan is an excellent step. As your cat reaches a healthier body condition, she may be better able to groom herself and maintain normal anal gland function.

When in doubt, a physical exam is the safest way to determine whether you’re dealing with simple hygiene issues or a medical condition that needs treatment.

A couple articles that might be helpful to you are Vaginitis in Cats, Diarrhea in Cats, and Anal Glands in Cats.

It may be as simple as she can’t clean herself well due to her obesity. In this case, weight loss, which you are working on with the Hills Prescription r/d diet, is your best bet.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra