Cats are natural groomers and keep themselves clean. However, when cats are sick or injured, they will skip steps in their grooming process, which sometimes leaves them with a dirty butt. Senior cats that have mobility issues may also start neglecting their personal hygiene. Whatever the reason, it’s your responsibility as a cat parent to keep your cat’s butt clean. Luckily, it’s a fairly easy process!
The 3 Simple Steps for Cleaning Your Cat’s Butt
1. Know why your cat’s butt needs cleaning
Leaving your cat with a dirty butt isn’t just unhygienic; it can be outright dangerous for both you and your cat. Illnesses like toxoplasmosis are transferred through feces. While most cats that get the infection have no symptoms, it can cause fevers, lethargy, and a loss of appetite.
Having dried feces build up on your cat’s butt can cause itching, irritation, and infection. It’s also a popular place for gastro-intestinal parasites to hide. These can make both you and your cat very sick! Having a dirty bottom can also attract flies resulting in fly strike.
2. Clean your cat’s butt
We recommend using wipes made for cleaning and deodorizing anal glands, as these will remove any dried fecal matter as well as odor.
Wash your hands thoroughly, or wear disposable gloves while cleaning to avoid transferring bacteria to other surfaces.
If your cat has significant amounts of dried feces on their butt, you may need to soak a cloth with soap and water and remove the excess, then clean your cat’s fur with the wipes or cotton wool pads.
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3. Dirty cat butt prevention
Why Is My Cat Not Cleaning Themselves?
Cats don’t like to be dirty, so if your previously clean cat is suddenly not engaging in grooming behavior, something may be wrong. Here are common reasons that your cat may not be cleaning their own butt.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, there’s no fix for your cat’s lack of grooming, and you must step in and clean their butt. It’s an important job because it keeps you and your cat healthy. The simple suggestions outlined in this article should make the job easy!
Featured Image Credit by: JackieLou DL, Pixabay
