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What Does Marking Smell Like?

post #1 of 10
1/1/10 at 2:47pm
Thread Starter 
So I have an unusual question. What does it smell like when a cat is marking their area?

My 6 month old kitten was sitting on my lap and it suddenly smelled like he farted. He then started licking my pants. He left and it still smells! LOL I smelled my pants where he was licking them and yup, that's where the smell is coming from.

Is that marking? Or did he just have a really foul fart that won't leave my pants?? LOL Even my daughter is sitting next to me and is saying "what is that smell? ewww" It's not urine smelling, but more like a really bad fart.


I'm just curious because I don't know what marking smells like.

Thanks! Sorry for such an odd question.
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post #2 of 10
1/1/10 at 2:52pm
It is also possible he expressed his anal glands on you. I would think if he peed on you, it would smell of urine.
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post #3 of 10
1/1/10 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 
Does marking smell like urine?


Expressed his anal glands on me? Is that common? Do they just do that, or does it mean something is wrong?
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post #4 of 10
1/1/10 at 2:58pm
I have one cat who has had to have urine tested so many times due to chronic urinary issues - every time they try to get a sample he expresses his anal glands. I believe that it's something cats just do normally. I guess I am not that familiar with cats & anal glands, but here is one thread I found in regards to anal glands.
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post #5 of 10
1/1/10 at 3:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by white cat lover View Post
It is also possible he expressed his anal glands on you. I would think if he peed on you, it would smell of urine.
I think that white cat lover hit the mark. No pun intended, but cats (both unneutered males and females) mark their territories with their urine.

Anal glads reside on opposite sides of a cat's anus under the tail and collect an incredibly foul smelling liquid. These glands can get plugged and you can usually tell with a kitty starts dragging thier anus along the floor. This usually means a vet visit to expell the block glands. It sounds like your little one spontanously did so on your pants.
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post #6 of 10
1/1/10 at 3:03pm
Thread Starter 
hm. weird. I guess I was a little thrown off because he was sitting on my lap getting loved and purring away.

But jeez, it's been almost a half hour and it still smells! So maybe that is what it was. Better go change my pants.
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post #7 of 10
1/1/10 at 3:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by esrandall2000 View Post
I think that white cat lover hit the mark. No pun intended, but cats (both unneutered males and females) mark their territories with their urine.

Anal glads reside on opposite sides of a cat's anus under the tail and collect an incredibly foul smelling liquid. These glands can get plugged and you can usually tell with a kitty starts dragging thier anus along the floor. This usually means a vet visit to expell the block glands. It sounds like your little one spontanously did so on your pants.
Thanks. Is it common for them to get plugged this young? He's only 5-6 months old. I haven't seen him dragging his bottom on the floor... but we do have a vet appointment tomorrow, so I guess I'll ask then!

Thanks!
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post #8 of 10
1/1/10 at 3:12pm
Thread Starter 
one more question if you don't mind...

will the smell come out in the wash with normal detergent, or do I need to use an enzyme cleaner on it?
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post #9 of 10
1/1/10 at 3:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by apesusi View Post
Thanks. Is it common for them to get plugged this young? He's only 5-6 months old. I haven't seen him dragging his bottom on the floor... but we do have a vet appointment tomorrow, so I guess I'll ask then!

Thanks!
If he expressed on your pants, it doesn't mean it was plugged - they do it most time when thy poop, for example...
It is a problem when the glands get plugged - that is when you start seeing the symptoms...
Your guy seems fine to me, sounds like he had and oopsy
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post #10 of 10
1/1/10 at 3:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by apesusi View Post
one more question if you don't mind...

will the smell come out in the wash with normal detergent, or do I need to use an enzyme cleaner on it?
Good question. Although I know how to express anal glands (and have), I usually make my vet go through the odoriforous procedure. And anal glands under the necessary pressure can expell themselves with a machine gun-like velocity (in otherwords be prepared to duck!).

I would tend to use whatever "big guns" you have available when washing your pants. Whatever strong detergent, enzyme cleaner, pre-wash spot cleaning products you have, I would use them!!!!!

Good luck!!!!!!
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