If you have a cat like me, you would have experienced your cat shoving its butt in your face a few times. Don’t take that as an insult but more as a compliment. Your cat is saying hello and wants you to take a sniff of its behind and take in the pheromones.
I have to admit that I’ve peered deep into the abyss of my cat’s anus more times than I would like to. On some days, what I see can make me gag while on others, I walk away with my last meal intact.
It is still a good idea to examine your cat’s butt area occasionally for infections and weird growths. What if you notice black spots on your cat’s anus? Is this a cause of concern?
Let’s find out
Its Dried Fecal Matter
After taking a big number too, your cat has no access to a bidet or physical toilet paper. The only way that your cat is going to clean up the mess is with its tongue.
Your cat comes with a lifetime supply of toilet paper that never runs out.
Most cats do a pretty good job of licking themselves clean but just don’t expect it to be crystal clean.
It is normal to have small flecks of stool still stuck to your cat’s anus.
Depending on the consistency of your cat’s poop as well, having explosive diarrhea will make the bum area look a whole lot messier.
Don’t be surprised to find dried stool stuck to the fur around your cat’s bum too. This is more common for cats with long fur and will make your cat smell like rotten eggs.
If you are not a fan of seeing dried feces on your cat’s anus like me, I will make it a point to clean my cat’s bum with a pet wet wipe after it is done pooping.
I find it a lot more hygienic for my cat and it doesn’t leave brown spots all over my house.
Hyperpigmented Spots
Some might call it a discoloration of the skin but it is a condition whereby a specific area of the skin becomes darker.
It can happen to any living thing that has some form of color.
There are a few reasons that can cause your cat’s skin to darken.
Lentigo
There are certain colored cats that are more prone to developing darker spots that are similar to ‘freckles’ on humans.
You can more commonly see these spots on orange, calicos and tortoiseshell cats. These cats tend to have dark pigment cells that multiply as they get older.
Some cat lovers claim that orange cats are affectionate and social, always craving the attention of their human owners.
These dark spots will start to appear on the cat’s face like the nose and lips. It is also common for lentigo spots to appear as black spot’s on your cat’s gums.
You can even see it appearing on your cat’s rear end which explains the black spots on the cat’s anal area.
You might notice these black spots more often on older cats but some kittens can also get it at a young age.
Fungal Infections
A fungal infection on your cat’s skin can also cause the affected area to darken. Cats can get fungal infections from cuts in their skin or ingesting fungi/spores.
Cats with fungal infections will not seem well and will need to be brought to the vet for medical attention.
Tumors
There are tumors that can also cause your cat’s skin to darken Bowen’s disease tumors. These growths can be lesion-like and be painful for your cat.
A Wart Growth
Humans are known to get warts rather frequently that are caused by the Human Papillomavirus or HPV.
Cats too can have warts growing on their bodies and it caused by the Feline Papillomavirus (FPV)
Warts on cats have raised bumps of various shapes and sizes that grow on the skin. It can be difficult to spot due to the presence of cat fur.
Some warts can be skin-coloured or much darker in color.
Warts are usually benign and tend to disappear on their own after some time.
But if it is a source of irritation for your cat, the vet might choose to have them surgically removed.
Anal Sac Disease
Your cat comes equipped with a pair of anal glands that are situated just right at the opening of the anus.
They are located at the 4 and 8 o’clock positions from the center of the cat’s anus.
The anal sacs of a cat are very important as it contains the cat’s pheromones and signature scent.
The anal sac openings are able to squirt out a dark, oily and musky smelling liquid that has a couple of uses for both wild and domestic cats.
- Territorial markers
- Exchange of pheromones
- Helps to lubricate the stool
If you notice that there are black spots on your cat’s anus, it could be that your cat’s anal sac openings might be blocked.
The openings can be blocked by dried feces or dried secretions from the anal glands. This can cause the anal glands to be impacted or clogged.
Once this happens, it can start to feel painful for your cat. The anal glands will be inflamed and the cat will be leaking brown liquid all over the house.
Your cat will engage in excessive grooming of the bum area which can even worsen the condition.
The best way to treat anal sac disease is to get your cat to the veterinarian and get the anal glands expressed or emptied.
Pain relief medication and antibiotics can also help clear the infection.
Something Sticking Out Of My Cat’s Bum
There can be times when your cat might have eaten something that its body can digest.
The object will then be expelled in the cat’s stool but can be stuck in your cat’s bum at times.
This can be a piece of string or some other foreign object.
Bigger and harder objects can cause your cat to meow while it is pooping due to the discomfort and pain that your cat is experiencing.
If you are able to gently remove the object without using any force, then that would be ideal DO NOT use force and tug at whatever is sticking out as it might have become intertwined with the cat’s intestines.
Bring your cat to the vet for a proper examination to see what is the best way to remove the object.
Rectum Prolapse
The object sticking out of your cat’s anus could be part of its rectum and not a foreign object.
This condition is called a rectum prolapse and it can be caused by cats having diarrhea, constipation, giving birth or intestinal parasites.
Cats with this health issue can be leaking poop wherever they go as they can’t control their bowel movements.
Your cat needs immediate medical attention to remedy the situation.
How Do You Know If Your Cat’s Anus Is Infected?
Whether or not your cat’s anus discomfort is caused by the black spots or its anal sacs, there are a few ways to tell if that area is infected
- Excessive grooming
- Leaking brown liquid
- Swollen and inflamed
- Bleeding
- Scooting or dragging its butt on the floor
What Should I Do If I Notice Black Spots On My Cat’s Anus?
First of all, I know it is easier said than done but try not to freak out. Not every health issue that your cat has is a matter of life and death.
In fact, most times, we tend to make it a lot worse than it really is.
- How has your cat been behaving? Is everything still business as usual for your cat? Has it been eating less? Any changes to its litter box habits?
- Take a closer look Try to take a closer look at the black spots to try and ascertain what it really is. Use a torchlight if you have to.
- Try cleaning it If the area doesn’t look inflamed or swollen, you can try wiping or cleaning the area with pet wipes to see if it comes off. Don’t try and scrub it with force as it is a very delicate area.
- Call the vet Once you have done all the above, give your vet a call and explain and symptoms and what you have done. You might be required to bring your cat in for a checkup.