My cat rubbed her bum on my bed, and then sniffed it(the bed). Does that mean her anal gland is infected?

Question

and if it is, what do I do?

Answer 1

Hi Matt...if your cat is scooting her bum on surfaces regularly the anal sacs will need to be expressed. This is something which should be done by a vet.

More on cats who scoot: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_anal_sacs.html

Cats who have soft bowel movements suffer more from anal sac impactions because regular stools push on the glands to express them during the movement. Consider offering canned pumpkin (not the pie variety with spices) to help add fibre into the diet, which will firm up the stools. http://www.pets.ca/pettips/tips-75.htm

Answer 2

It probably just means she had an itch. And cat's will sniff anything. Dogs usually have more of an issue with anal glands than cats.

It's also quite possible she could have worms. If she's around other animals, or goes outdoors, this is probably the problem. It's an easy problem to take care of.

First, look under the tail. If you see white spots, she has worms. If not, just keep an eye on her. If she doesn't do it again, don't worry. But if she keeps it up or is obsessively licking herself, go to the pet store and ask for cat wormer. One dose, and that's all it takes!

Answer 3

Cats has scent glands by their bum... .she's probably just marking your bed as her territory. Just like when they head butt you, they are leaving their scent so if another cat sniffs... they know you're taken!!!

Answer 4

I agree w/ Jonela, they have scent glands there and she's marking her territory.