While we're on the subject of offending odors...

I notice that my female cat tends to... express herself... whenever she's feeling particularly good (usually while she's being pet. She purrs, rolls onto her back and lets loose.).

My male cats never seem to express themselves at all.

Are female cats more prone to expressing than males?

I've never seen any cat do that. And I've known a lot of cats over the years.

My very first cat, a male, could clear a room when he was a kitten. Fortunately he outgrew that behavior.

I'd look into what she is eating and have a talk with her vet.

One of our female cats will "musk" occasionally and yes it is not good. Luckily she doesn't do it often.

---

Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Are we talking about the dreaded anal glands?

The only cat here who "expresses" a bit too easily (when startled in a certain way) is male.

---

My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

From Pam's response, it looks like I misunderstood your euphemism. If you meant breaking wind, no, I don't think female cats do that any more than male cats.

EDIT: okay, looking at other response, I am now really unsure what you were talking about. What does this cat do, exactly?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2006 12:44PM by $tevie.

have had girls for 25 years.

this is my first go-round with neutered boys (past 5).

have only seen that behavior when sick, scared, or both, in male and female.

Now I'm confused too ;)

Our cat that musks does it mostly when Mac's cat does, when she is getting petted or scratched and really seems to be enjoying it. It would be nice if she would find a less odoriferous way to express her pleasure.

---

Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

if you are talking about urinating, then my above post applies.

If you are talking about a really smelly output (look at the little brown eye.... if it's a puckering... visibly, then this is the anal gland issue) - then you need to have a vet "express" them for you.

You can do this too.... but the CAT's scream is enough to make you let go of it, and the BITE, if you get nipped, will have you on as much antimicrobials as if you had the latest version of syph. No kidding. As much as each cheek can handle and your delts too, if you get it in the hand, and you'll get 10 days of macrolide antibiotics on top of that.

(I once had a joint capsule punctured by a bite, and a friend in college got nipped on the very tip of his finger...it touched bone, and he ignored it for ONE day DESPITE the almost instant and massive swelling. The only way to stop the spread of infection was to amputate the finger. It will continue to spread up the limb if unchecked.)

This is NOT a joke. Cat tooth penetration into deep tissue, bone, synovial, is a very serious matter. The $30 vet visit is WORTH it.

If your cat is dragging its little arse along the floor, same deal. There are scent glands there (and do they EVER have a scent!) - and like dogs, they need an exorcist if they are not outdoors using them as nature intended.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2006 12:53PM by Jimmypoo.

I'm talking about scent marking, not peeing. Our cat can release a horrible smell from those scent glands and mark what ever she wants. I've never had to have those glands expressed and I don't ever intend to do it myself. If it gets that bad, it's off to the vet.

If she is doing it AT ALL, it's time for the vet.

No JP, she just does it when she "likes" you. She isn't butt scooting or anything and it isn't bothering her. She just had her check up at the vet. It seems to be a voluntary thing. It doesn't happen often, thank goodness.

Wow, I've been around literally dozens of cats in my lifetime and I've never seen a cat scent mark like that. Live and learn.

> okay, looking at other response, I am now really unsure what
> you were talking about. What does this cat do, exactly?

Expressing anal glands.

She's not ill. They're not swollen. She just does it, then looks a bit embarrassed like a girl who pees herself while laughing.

This is how it typically happens: I'm laying on the couch, she jumps up and cuddles against my belly. I pet her. After awhile, she just lets one loose. It's not noisy like a fart. There's just suddenly a terrible odor.

Then I have to get up, wash my hands and change my shirt because the odor attaches to everything within a foot or so of her.

Until recently, all of my cats have been boys and I thought that expressing anal glands was one of those myths that cat-haters spread around.

getting the cat excitied can just make the things pop a few drops.

My first girlie I had for 10 years before it was clear they were clogging, and so the vet gave them a squeeze. These days, for annual visits, I just get it done, male or female.

I don't want that stuff on me or anything I own if I can prevent it.

They need not be swollen or in pain. It is a maintenance thing, like @#$%& on a horse. It's gotta be done, you just don't have to be the one to do it.

btw.... ask Wurm about this.

his wife takes him in at least twice a year for the same thing.

MacMagus,
Yes, that's it exactly. That's what ours does. I have had to do the change clothes and wash them immediately thing, too.

damn thats just nasty. I'm glad i hate animals.

---

The animals are glad, too.

---

My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

Smelly cat, smelly cat,
What are they feeding you?
Smelly cat, smelly cat,
It's not your fault.

They won't take you to the vet.
You're obviously not their favorite pet.
You may not be a bed of roses,
And you're no friend to those with noses.

Smelly cat, smelly cat,
What are they feeding you?
Smelly cat, smelly cat,
It's not your fault.

. "The thing you've got to remember about WASPs: They love animals and can't stand people," ~ Gordon Gecko "Wall Street".

---

An oldie but goodie:

[boston.craigslist.org]

---

My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

Thank G-d my cat has never done that. I'd never even heard of it until this post. My gassy dog is bad enough...

DM

I've been owned by cats for many years and none of them has ever done this... that I am aware of. I'd probably notice, huh?

Phy, there is no way to NOT notice, unless you have no sense of smell at all.

---

My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

ka jot, I resisted the temptation to put up that Boston post. It's the Grossest. Pet. Story. Ever.

---

Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Peter, someone had to do it.

---

My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals