Excitable Anal Gland Expression?

Hi

I'm new to this site, so I apologize if there is already a thread like this (I didn't find one). 

My kitty, Bogart (pictured in my avatar), is my love   He is just a sweetheart, and I love him to bits.  He's a bit shy with new people, and even a bit shy with my fiance (even though we've all lived together for just over 2 years).  He's the second youngest of 5 cats, and gets along great with everyone.  His health is good, although he had a urinary blockage at a very young age (9 months).  I was a vet assistant for 8 years before becoming disabled, so luckily, I recognized the symptoms very early.  His bladder had not yet even become full, so he suffered no kidney level elevations, potassium issues, etc.  It was determined to be a struvite stone issue, which is good (they dissolve with proper pH balance restoration in the urine), and after 24 hours at the vet, he came home in good condition.  Bogart was on good nutrition when he blocked, so I believe his genetics were at play (his mom is a Siamese, his dad an unknown barncat).  Since then, he's been on a strict Science Diet C/D for the prevention of stones, drinks well, and all u/a's have come back quiet promising (concentration has been high, so I try and feed wet food frequently, but dry is easier, and he prefers it). 

So... my main issue... whenever Bogart is particularly "happy," i.e. is getting pet vigorously, scratched the way he wants anywhere south of his neck, or is patted anywhere near his bum, his anal glands just squirt everywhere!!! And this can happen day after day after day... I know that it is healthy for them to replenish themselves to express during a BM, but sheesh... he just lets them go!!!

I've checked his glands a few times at home, fun for us both... and never found any evidence of impaction or infection.  I can't figure out why he still has material to express... is he not expressing them during his BM's?  They appear normal (rather large, in fact), firm and he seems quiet impressed with himself on a daily basis.  Can they replenish themselves on demand like that? as in, express just some for a BM, and save enough to squirt all over myself and my couch when he's super happy? Why oh why is this his way of showing his pleasure?!?!?!? I have a fiance who did accept that in order to be with me, he would have to accept my cats as well, but it's caused a few fights, and I feel like I'm constantly defending my cat... He clearly doesn't do this on purpose... It appears like they just "pop" - not the right wordage, but they just... go....

He really enjoys vigorous scratching and petting, and I feel like I'm not able to do that as much as either of us like... I love hearing him talk to me the way a siamese/siamese mix does when they're happy.. I love the purrs, and happy looks he gives me.  When I have to worry about the furniture, and a fight over his messy habit... I find myself not giving him the loves either of us wants...

Any help and advice would be welcome

Hi and welcome to TCS!
I'm afraid I can't help you with Bogart's excessive expression, maybe someone else has had experience with this. Poor guy, and it can't be much fun for you guys having to clean that up either! :nausea: I hope its something that can be fixed.

Yikes!  My Eko expressed his once when very stressed (he was being crated for the vet.)  My guess is that he had no control over the process, but I'm not totally sure about that.  I haven't experienced the happy expression of anal glands though.  I'll be curious to see if you get any responses from anyone who has.

KatieKates said:

Hi
Since then, he's been on a strict Science Diet C/D for the prevention of stones,

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure this is the problem.

In the wild, ferals DO express their anal glands during their BMs, but they eat a much different diet than most indoor kitties. The small animals they consume make their stools much harder (a GOOD thing) and therefore, their glands get expressed.

It sounds scary, but I would consider switching kitty slowly to a raw diet, ESPECIALLY considering his struvite issues. The fact is, kitties get those crystals almost entirely because they don't drink enough water; they have evolved to get most of their water needs from the prey they would eat in the wild, and kibble doesn't have that water. Raw reintroduces that water back into his system, and many cats that have urinary issues do fantastic on a raw diet., with few or no recurrences.

This page explains the link pretty well. She recommends canned food, but her intended audience is kibble feeders whose cats have only urinary issues.

I recommend raw over canned for the anal gland issues. Speaking from personal experience (and I hope this isn't TMI!!), my cats' stools were much harder, smaller, and better smelling! when they were on raw compared to canned and kibble. It should help with his gland issues, and raw is just a healthier diet overall. It's the optimal diet for our little obligate carnivores. :rub:

We have a wonderful raw feeding resource forum over in Cat Nutrition if you want to check it out.

Welcome to TCS!! Good luck and keep us updated.

Hi KatieKates, I have a 1 1/2 year old Siamese that this same thing happened with.  She was like this for a good half a year before it stopped.  I found switching food was very helpful.  It seems like it might have had to do with the food giving her some gas.  The tiny anal squirts only came out though when she played and was really excited.  It may also be related to a young GI tract and my kitty seems to have grown out of that stage.

I had a female cat who would do this when I groomed her and she became extremely relaxed.  She was about 3-4 yrs old at the time.  She did this for several years.
 

Thank you all
I've been considering the raw diet for a while now, I've honestly had concerns about the cost associated with the frequent u/a's I feel will be necessary to do during the transition to assure that he doesn't develop any issues. I have 5 cats, so I'm guessing with raw food, you feed twice a day, or on a schedule? I currently free feed because I have an elderly cat that needs access to food at all times... so I don't want to restrict her food either... sigh... Lol. My babies are all rescues, and it seems I always have at least 5. At one time I was feeding 3 different prescription diets, meds all around, etc. The free feeding of C/D dry with wet C/D twice a day seems to be keeping the pride happy, but I will, of course, do what's best.

Bogart's birthday is on September 14th, and he'll be turning 4. I certainly hope he'll also grow out of it in the meantime, I will check out the nutrition section for info on raw food. I want to just be certain he'll be absolutely safe with his bladder issues before I do any diet changes.