Help! Smelly cat.

[TeddyRuxpin]

I have an 8 year old neutered Tom cat.
The past year or so his bottom has smelled awful most of the time, more so when he is happy as he seems to 'leak' a smelly fluid when relaxed.

The vet said it was blocked anal glands and drained them as well as putting him on an antibiotic for a week which seemed to help a bit until the problem recurred about a month later.
This time the vet said his anal glands were fine and he just wasn't cleaning himself.
It's got to the stage I am scared to have him on my knee as he leaves dirty marks which smell awful and I can't give him the run of the house any more.

I feel so bad as he used to get so much attention but now I can hardly bear to hold him and I don't know what I can do to resolve the problem.

Has anyone else had any experience of this with their cat(s) or know of anything I can do to help him smell better?

Ive had cats all my life and know their bottoms can smell on occasion but nothing like this. :(

Hmmm does he have mobility problems? Sometimes when they get older they get arthritic and can't reach to clean. 8 seems young for that though. Are they a short hair? Long haired cats need their trews trimmed to help with cleanliness I found.

I would advise getting him clean, yes, bathing him and cleaning off all the pooey bits, get some cat shampoo. Then checking him every now and then and give him a wipe with a damp kitchen towel. Manky I know but better than poo on your sofa. I had to do it with my old boy when he got old.

As a final point, I have assumed you aren't a poo troll. Because poo is a hot topic on MN today it would seem.

coldsancerre I can assure you that I am not a poo troll

Yes, he is shorthaired and no, he doesn't have mobility problems, although he is very lazy. The vet thought he might have difficulty cleaning himself as he is a bit tubby (has been since being neutered at 9 months old) but I have seen him get round to clean on the odd occasion so I know he can reach.

Seems like I'll just have to start giving him a daily bath. Luckily he's pretty placid so I don't think it will be much of a fight.

Thanks for you reply.

You don't need a daily bath, just a wipe. Do it when he comes in the house. I wouldn't dream of suggesting anyone bath a cat daily, they'd have arms that looked like they self harmed!

I've bathed him in the past and he just sits there, that's how lazy he is!

Thanks for your advice. Will wash him tomorrow to get him really clean then wipe, as you said, when he comes into the house and see how we go from there.