Anal gland removal during neutering Standard procedure????

Hello! So I have a 1 year old grey male tabby named Charlie. Three days ago I took him into a local vet/rescue shelter who offer free spay and neuter for your dogs and cats. I thought that he was going in for a straight neutering surgery but today as a was checking on his incisions, like I do twice a day as asked by the vet, I noticed a black string coming from his anus.....

I thought maybe it was just something he ate or was stuck there and tried to lightly pull it out however it resisted coming out. Idecided to leave it alone as Im not sure what it is now and don't want to yank it out and possibly hurt him. Oh and btw, the vet used glue sutures not your typical needle and thread for removing his testes. I cut tiny piece of the string off (the string protruding from his behind is about an inch and a half in length and I only cut about a centimeter) and looked at the piece under a jewelers loop and light and upon further inspection noticed it's definately a synthetic type string and not just a piece of black hair as I originally suspected. I inspected closer around his anus and noticed what looks like sutures on the right and left sides of the outside of his anus. (Maybe two small stitches on each side).

Before he went in for his surgery he did have an incident where his tail was injured and required antibiotics for an abscess that formed in his tail but there wasn't any other damages done as a result if his tail injury (ie bladder or deification issues weren't present) and his tail was healed and antibiotic regimen was complete by the time he had his neuter surgery. Not sure that this detail matters but decided to mention it anyhow. My question is (because I'm assuming based off what it looks like that they removed his anal glands and when I picked him up he smelled very strongly of hs spray, obviously I'm not an expert but based off of the little knowledge I have this is all I coud come up with) do the vets normally remove these glands as part if the regular neutering procedure or is thus something that we should have discussed prior and after to surgery?

Clearly I will have to call the shelter and dr who performed the surgery to get more answers (Which I will be doing here in the next two hours when they open). I just figured while I'm waiting what others experiences are and what not. Any and all comments, suggestions, and criticisms are welcomed and asked for as I don't know a whole lot and like to gather I go from other expirienced owners/Drs/professionals. Well thanks and let me know whatcha think! [emoji]128521[/emoji]

Welcome to The Cat Site and sorry it's under these circumstances.
Removal of the anal gland during neutering is not standard procedure. And if so, that is certainly something your vet should have discussed with you. But from my limited knowledge of the male cat anatomy, aren't his private parts close to his anus?
I would first review carefully what ever the clinic gave you when your cat was discharged; even if the procedure was free, the papers should indicate what was done, including, for example, rabies vaccination if required by law where you live and what pain medication (if any) was given.
Then I would call the vet and just say, by the way, noticed there was a string coming down from his poop/anus area and wondering what it is. Shoul it be hanging out? Ask if there were any complications.
Other than that, how is your cat doing post-surgery.

He seems to be just fine post surgery (even tried humping my arm the moment he was home which is something he has always done lol) the only thing is he's partially an outdoor kitty so he is going absolutely stir crazy, howling/meowing non stop around the house. Which is another thing I need to figure out how to transition him into a full time indoor cat because the house we are in is on an extremely busy road and there have been so many cats I've seen fall victim to it and don't want that for my little one. Anywho I digress....i didn't see anything in the paperwork and the string seems to have disappeared. I don't know that what I'm seeing on his anal area is just dirty or what but I did get a chance to talk to the shelter and they told me that his surgery went fine and thtat they did not believe his glands were removed, although the dr performed the surgery was not in, they didn't see that in his file and it is def something they would have discussed with me first. Glad I got that cleared up, I don't know how all this is supposed to go with male cats so I think I'm quick to jump sometimes hehe. So for now I think all is well. They told me no strenuous activity for 7-10 days but he seems to be pretty well and not in any pain so I'm wondering if I could let him at least down in the garage where he would have more space to roam around. It just breaks my heart to see him so couped up. Any suggestions at all for a cat with cabin fever? My husband was squirting him with his bad behavior bottle because of the constant meowing which I made him stop because I didn't think that was very nice/fair considering all he's been through and I believe it's normal him reacting the way he is, what do you think? Am I being over protective? Thanks for the reply! Def helped looking over his post surgery paperwork for some other minor questions I had.

He's been through a surgery! Ask your husband if he wouldn't be howling after a surgery like that! By the way, physical punishment with a cat DOES NOT WORK, it just makes them afraid of the person. They are not like dogs that are striving for your acceptance and approval, they have a different way of thinking. I have never restricted any of my many cats after being neutered, they seemed to restrict themselves for the first 24 hours and then acted normally. Letting him roam a bit, especially with supervision at first, should be OK. Keep us posted!