Help me figure this out please!

My kitty Izzy has been hiding all day. He smelled like poop so I looked at his butt. He has a long stringy something coming out his anal area and there is like a lump of something back there.

Could this be a swollen anal gland?

Should I take him to the emergency vet tomorrow or wait until Monday when my regular vet is in.

I think he hasn't eaten either today. He seemed fine this morning but started to get this way later in the day.

I'm pretty worried. He seems to want to be pet and held but covering is anal area with his tail. It must really hurt.

Poor kitty. Please tell me if you think you know what this is.

Re: Help me figure this out please!

Was it a worm of some sort? The stringy thing?

Could be an anal gland but the stringy thing concerns me.

Is it an object in there or a worm possible?

Message edited 9/24/2011 9:38:11 PM.

Re: Help me figure this out please!

It seems almost like he took a poop but it didn't come out all the way..he ate grass yesterday.

Re: Help me figure this out please!

I would bring kitty to the emergency vet, but then again I'm over protective.

Can you see if it's coming from the actual anus or from the glands? If you're looking like a clock, the center would be the anus and the gland holes are at say 4 and 8.

My kitty had an infected anal glands. I could just tell because she was excessively licking and it seemed sensitive and when I looked at the anal gland area I saw black buildup near the holes. They had to sedate her, clean out and flush the glands with saline and they also cleaned out her anal area. They said she had lots of 'hairball' build up back there that they removed. She was on a course of antibiotics afterwards.

Maybe your kitty also has the same hairball buildup - but currently half in and half out.

Message edited 9/24/2011 10:28:44 PM.

Re: Help me figure this out please!

Years ago my old cat had something red and stringy hanging out of her back side. I was in HS but my parents were away and I was totally freaking out thinking it was her insides coming out (I thought the red was blood.).

I noticed there was a lump of poop attached so I gently pulled on the end (I used a plastic bag or glove or something to grab it.) Turned out she had swallowed a piece of ribbon or something and that was partially hanging out.

In retrospect I probably should have brought her to the vet in case the string had been stuck around something in her insides, but once I did pull it out she was fine... And much happier.

Re: Help me figure this out please!

The stringy thing seems to be some fur that is matted together. He is a Maine Coon and very furry.

DH is opposed to the ER vet. Last time we took one of our kitties there it cost us $700 and we had to put our kitty Max down.

He wants to wait for Monday to see our vet.

I hope that's not a mistake.

Message edited 9/24/2011 11:12:09 PM.

Re: Help me figure this out please!

Update:

Well it seems Izzy got it out..on my rug.

Great. But at least the crisis looks like it's over.

He still seems pretty skittish but maybe he was just constipated from the grass.

I still may take him to the vet tomorrow.

Re: Help me figure this out please!

Been there unfortunately. One of my cats always eats hay and sometimes it doesn't digest the way I'd hope. So far we've been lucky and he's...worked it out himself. I'd just keep an eye out to make sure he's eating and pooping normally.

Re: Help me figure this out please!

In my opinion, Get Kitty to the vet.
or I would first try gently to pull on it with gloves on , my cat had this and it was curling ribbon. It came out, it was not pretty. I would not wait till tomorrow, the cat could be in pain ,esp if the cat is hiding. It is going to cost more money if they have to do surgery. Good luck- I hope you cat feels better, keep us posted.

Re: Help me figure this out please!

He's back to normal 100%. I know when I'm constipated I'm miserable too.

Phew! Glad that's over with.