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Ziggy and awful "boy smell"

post #1 of 15
3/11/11 at 9:30am
Thread Starter 
Today I was about to go upstairs and I noticed Ziggy crouching in the living room, with a startled look on his face. At that same moment I got a whiff of overwhelming "boy smell." I asked him (lol) if he'd sprayed, and looked around, but found nothing. Later, when I went back downstairs, the smell was gone and again, I could find no sprays.

A few minutes ago, I was sitting here at my desk and the smell was back and a few seconds later Ziggy jumped on my desk. It's definitely coming from HIM!!!!

I know this is TMI, but I had to find out what's going on. As he stood on my desk with his backside facing me, I sniffed him closely. Oddly enough, the odor seems to be coming from his bum, not his penis.

Could the smell be coming from his anal sacs, and perhaps they discharged earlier, when he was using the potty? Does that "substance" have a distinctly boy smell or is boy smell *just* from urine?

I'm very confused, and whatever the source, Mr Ziggy will HAVE to have a bath!

Thanks in advance,

Cally
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post #2 of 15
3/11/11 at 9:35am
How is Ziggy acting? You mentioned he looked startled the first time, and I'm just wondering if it is an anal sac problem causing him some pain. Can you press gently on each side of his anus and see if he's in pain when you do that? The anal sacs could be full and one could have a small tear or something causing the fluid to seep slightly without being released properly.
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post #3 of 15
3/11/11 at 10:04am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the quick reply, rad65. Ziggy is acting completely normally. He was purring away (stinkily) on my lap for quite a while. I did give him a little squeeze back there, and no reaction whatsoever. No redness or inflammation around his anus or urethra either.

Strange...
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post #4 of 15
3/11/11 at 1:46pm
Is his tummy bloated? He could just have gas lol.

Silly cats, they always find a way to make us worry!
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post #5 of 15
3/11/11 at 1:49pm
Thread Starter 
Nope, no gas. It's actually on his fur around his bum. He just spent a good 10 minutes "bathing" himself and seems to have cleaned himself up pretty well.

Guess it's just a stinkin' mystery!
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post #6 of 15
3/11/11 at 3:30pm
lol!

Hope things are "sorted out."
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post #7 of 15
3/11/11 at 3:56pm
I'm gonna go with secretions from the anal sacs. My Callie used to do that every once in awhile and it reeked!

PS~Good to see you posting again!
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post #8 of 15
3/11/11 at 6:25pm
Ya know, someone else posted a question about this a few days ago and now I can't find the thread again!!! I offered some suggestions to that person as well. This is most definitely the anal sacs! When our pet cats have soft stools then the anal sacs are not expelled properly and can fill up and become blocked. I would just take your kitty to the vet and have the anal sacs expelled. I used to be a groomer and was trained (I know, GROSS!!) on how to do this if necessary. Taking you cat to the vet for this will end the "stinky" problem It is very common.
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post #9 of 15
3/11/11 at 8:41pm
I would guess anal gland secretions as well. Squishy's done that to me a few times, & phew-y does that stink!

Cats, gotta love 'em!
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post #10 of 15
3/11/11 at 8:47pm
I, too, had 2 cats needing anal sac "expression" and it's the stinkiest, most rank odor ever-ever! Aiiii ai aiiiiii!

Your buddy there may still have some in there.

Are his stools soft by any chance? This would make it even more likely it's his anal sacs as the more firm poop pushes against the anal sacs, automatically secreting it (unless they are completely stuffed).

You can do this from home, just get some thin latex gloves, an apron and some goggles and face mask! lol (not kidding!) It's painful for them to have it done, but they feel so good afterwords. It's easy to do (not easy for the cats).

Warmly,

Julie O'
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post #11 of 15
3/12/11 at 2:25pm
My guess is anal sac secretions as well. To be on the very safe side, I'd have kitty's anal sacs checked by Vet, to ensure they're emptied.....because if any issues with them emptying properly/completely, can cause painful impaction and abscess which then requires surgical drainage, no fun. I've had both males and females who periodically had to have their anal glands expressed by the Vet because one side wasn't emptying fully. Best to have things checked out and ensure no issues in this regard.
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post #12 of 15
3/13/11 at 7:13am
Thread Starter 
Hi everyone,

Ziggy's back to his normal, sweet-smelling self. His bum looks good, and he's had no further issues.

I put Ziggy on some ground flax meal a week or so ago, when we were worried he might have cancer, plus he has a history of leaking a bit of "grease" from his glands anyway. I have a feeling that he cleared everything on his own, since the flax meal tends to bulk up stools.

I of course will keep a close eye on him and will have him checked out if anything else looks amiss. He's not very hairy back there so I can easily see what's happening. LOL

Thanks a lot for all of the suggestions!!!

Cally
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post #13 of 15
3/13/11 at 11:29am
Awesome!

That is great news!!

Do you mix the flaxseed ground meal in with with the food?

So glad to hear Ziggy is his "sweet" self again, hee.

Warmly,

Julie O'
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post #14 of 15
3/13/11 at 11:41am
Thread Starter 
My cats eat dry food in the morning and raw meat in the evening. I mix the flax in with the meat.

C
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post #15 of 15
3/13/11 at 12:09pm
Very cool, thanks! Going to get some as I have a couple of "repeat offenders", lol.

Warmly,

Julie O'
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