Monday, May 24, 2010

Do cats have anal glands?

I know that cats don't have many anal gland problems. What are those two dots on each side of the @#%%26! under its tail. I thought my cat had a dirty butt but it doesn't, just two dark dots.

Thanks!
Answers:
yes, cats have anal glands. Some have trouble expressing them and must be taken to the vet and have then expressed maually by a vet. Other cats never have any trouble with them. If concerned then have your vet check them out
Those are the anal glands at approximately 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock on the anus.

If they get too full sometimes the cat will scoot on the carpet or floor to release them. Generally they are kept in good shape by normal bowel movements. I have had a cat with impaction and infection from their being plugged up.

What comes out of those glands has to be the worst smelling stuff in the universe!
Yes, this group of glands are called the supracaudal organ.

Two main types of gland are found in the dermal layer of the skin of the cat - the sweat glands and the sebaceous glands. Most of the sebaceous glands are associated with hair follicles and produce an oily secretion, sebum, which waterproofs the hairs and maintains the suppleness of the skin. In addition, a collection of much larger sebaceous glands are found on the chin, the lips, the dorsal (top) surface of the base of the tail and also the eyelids, prepuce and scrotum. The collection of glands under the skin in the chin area is sometimes referred to as the submental organ and the glands around the base of the tail are known as the supracaudal organ.

The oily secretion of these larger sebaceous glands appears to have a role in territorial marking and cats will repeatedly rub their chin, lips, temporal area and base of tail over certain objects. In time the secretions build up on favourite marking objects and may be seen as black, greasy patches. Cat owners may have noticed that they are 'marked' by their pets on returning home. Cats will also often mark certain objects at feeding time.
Yes, they do just like dogs. They can get impactions like dogs.but not as common in cats.

No comments:

Post a Comment