Anal glands are a small part of feline anatomy, but when they get irritated they can quickly turn into a big discomfort problem. Here I explain what they are, what normal looks like, which signs actually matter, and what routine care should look like at home so you can act early without overreacting.
The essentials for cat owners
- Cats do have anal glands, and in most healthy cats they empty without anyone noticing.
- They help with scent marking, so their job is more about communication than hygiene.
- Routine manual expression is usually unnecessary and can be irritating if done for no reason.
- Scooting, repeated licking, a strong smell, swelling, blood, or pain can point to a problem, but those signs are not specific to anal glands alone.
- Diet, hydration, weight control, and good parasite prevention all matter because stool quality and general comfort affect the area around the anus.
- If your cat seems painful, swollen, or has discharge, a vet visit is the right next step.
Do cats have anal glands and what do they do?
Yes, cats have anal glands, also called anal sacs. They are two tiny scent-producing sacs sitting just inside the anus, one on each side. Their fluid is strong-smelling for a reason: cats use it as part of their communication system, a bit like an invisible calling card.
In normal everyday life, most owners never notice them. The sacs usually empty when a cat passes a stool, because the pressure of defecation helps squeeze out the secretion. That is why I think of anal glands as a background structure, not something that should be on your routine to-do list.
There is one important distinction here: the glands are normal anatomy, but they are only useful when they work quietly. Once they stop emptying properly, the cat starts showing you the problem in very ordinary ways, and that is where routine care becomes practical rather than theoretical.
What normal looks like in everyday life
A healthy cat with functioning anal glands usually shows no symptoms at all. No dragging, no excess licking, no obvious smell, and no tenderness when you handle the rear end during grooming or a quick health check. In other words, the best-case scenario is boring.
I would not build any regular home ritual around squeezing the glands. Most cats do not need that, and unnecessary handling can make a sensitive area more inflamed. If your cat is bright, eating, toileting normally, and producing formed stools, that is usually enough reassurance.
The part I pay attention to is stool quality. Very soft stool, repeated diarrhoea, or chronic constipation can change how well the sacs empty, which is why anal gland problems often sit alongside broader digestive or skin issues rather than appearing in isolation. That link matters when you start looking for the cause instead of just the symptom.
Which signs suggest a problem
Anal gland trouble does not always look dramatic at first. Some cats only seem mildly off; others become obviously painful. Scooting is the classic sign people think of, but it is not specific on its own. Worms, skin irritation, a bit of litter stuck to the coat, or even a lump near the anus can create a similar picture.
| What you may notice | What it may suggest | How I would interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional scooting | Local irritation, parasites, or anal gland discomfort | Watch closely, but do not assume the glands are the only cause |
| Repeated licking or biting at the rear end | Pain, itch, inflammation, or infection | Worth a vet check if it keeps happening |
| Strong fishy or foul smell | Anal sac leakage or infection | More concerning if it comes with swelling or discharge |
| Redness, swelling, or a lump beside the anus | Impaction, abscess, or another mass | This should not be monitored for long at home |
| Blood, pus, or a moist sore near the anus | Ruptured abscess or severe inflammation | Same-day veterinary attention is sensible |
| Reluctance to poo or straining in the litter tray | Pain, constipation, or a rectal problem | Needs proper examination, not guesswork |
One detail I would not ignore is a cat that suddenly stops wanting to sit, grooms the tail base obsessively, or flinches when picked up. Those signs can point to anal sac disease, but they can also overlap with other problems around the bottom, so the pattern matters more than any single symptom. That leads naturally to how a vet sorts it out.
How a vet checks and treats the problem
At the clinic, the vet usually starts with a physical examination and may do a careful rectal check if the cat allows it. That helps confirm whether the sacs are full, painful, infected, or if the issue is something else entirely. In more uncomfortable cases, sedation may be needed because these problems can be sore.
If the glands are merely impacted, the usual treatment is to empty them and, if needed, flush the sacs. If infection is present, the cat may need pain relief, antibiotics, warm compresses, and a collar to stop over-grooming. If an abscess has opened, the area often needs cleaning and follow-up checks until it heals.
Recurrence is not the norm in cats, but it does happen. When it does, I look harder at the underlying cause rather than treating each episode as a one-off nuisance. Obesity, chronic diarrhoea, chronic constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, abnormal anatomy, and neurologic issues can all make repeat problems more likely. In older cats, a mass beside the anus should also be taken seriously because tumours can mimic infection.
What you can do at home without making it worse
The most useful routine care is often indirect. Keep an eye on stool consistency, because a cat that is chronically constipated or has repeated soft stools is more likely to struggle with emptying. Good hydration helps, so I like wet food, fresh water bowls in more than one place, and a water fountain if the cat prefers moving water.
Weight control matters too. Extra body weight can make toileting less efficient and may contribute to repeated discomfort around the rear end. If your cat is overweight, even modest, steady weight loss can make a real difference to overall comfort and grooming habits.
Parasite control is another piece people sometimes miss. Scooting is not always about anal glands, and worms are a very common reason for an itchy bottom. If the cat is due worming, or if there is any doubt, it is better to address that before assuming the glands are the culprit.
What I would not do at home is squeeze the glands myself unless a vet has shown me exactly how and explained why it is needed. Forcing the area can cause pain, tissue damage, or infection. If your cat is clearly uncomfortable, swollen, bleeding, or leaking pus, that is a vet problem, not a DIY one.
As a rule of thumb in the UK, I would arrange a same-day call if the cat has swelling, discharge, blood, significant pain, or is struggling to pass faeces. If the signs are mild and brief, monitor closely for a short period, but if they repeat or worsen, do not wait for them to “sort themselves out”.
Why this matters for routine cat care, not just rare flare-ups
The practical answer is simple: cats have anal glands, but most of the time you should not need to think about them. What matters more is recognising when a change in behaviour is really a sign of discomfort, constipation, diarrhoea, parasites, or a local infection that needs proper treatment.
If I were giving one piece of advice to a cat owner, it would be this: focus on the whole pattern, not just the rear end. A cat with recurring anal gland trouble is often telling you something broader about digestion, skin, weight, or general health. Catch that early, and you usually solve more than one problem at once.
