Cat Licking Rear Excessively

QUESTION:

I have noticed that my kitty is frequently licking her butt. I'm afraid she might have an infection, her stool is also very soft and smells really bad, but not runny. I don't have much money, can you suggest anything I can do to help her from home.


ANSWER

It sounds very possible that she is trying to clean herself because she has soft stool and some of it is smeared on her rear end after she defecates. You need to find out the reason for this. For me to guess is not possible. There are so many causes of soft stool in cats.

Perhaps the cheapest way you could start to try and help her is to take a fecal sample to a vet if you have one or find a vet who might run the fecal sample for you without seeing her. I don't know if that is possible or not, but it's worth a try.

You can also feed her a strict, rather bland diet for awhile. It may help, but I by no means know what is wrong with her or can suggest definite medical treatments. I am just offering symptomatic treatment that can't harm her.

A bland diet could be cooked chicken alone or mixed with white rice or cooked potatoes. Cooked ground beef could also be used. That is not a diet that she should eat indefinitely. It is just one that will be ok for a few days to see if it helps.

My favorite diet for cats in general and long-term is Iams orginal formula (flavor). Cats that eat Iams tend to have better haircoats, less urinary problems, and more formed, less malodorous stools.

Obviously, the best thing for her is to see a vet. If that absolutely cannot happen, then the above suggestions for symptomatic therapy may help until you can afford to take her to the vet.

Good luck, Dr. Neely