A protruding anus in cats is most commonly caused by rectal prolapse, a condition where the inner lining of the rectum pushes outward through the anal opening. It can also result from swollen or abscessed anal glands. Both situations need veterinary attention, but understanding what you’re seeing can help you act quickly and keep your cat comfortable in the meantime.
Rectal Prolapse: The Most Likely Cause
Rectal prolapse is what most cat owners are seeing when they notice tissue bulging from their cat’s rear end. It appears as an elongated, cylinder-shaped mass of pink or red tissue protruding through the anus. The tissue is moist and may look swollen or irritated.
Prolapse comes in two forms. In an incomplete prolapse, only the innermost layer of the rectal wall slips out. In a complete prolapse, all layers of the rectum push through, creating a larger, more alarming-looking mass. Both types can happen suddenly, often during or right after a bout of straining.
The underlying cause is almost always prolonged straining to defecate. When a cat bears down repeatedly and forcefully, the pressure eventually pushes rectal tissue beyond where it’s supposed to sit. This straining (called tenesmus) can be triggered by:
- Intestinal parasites, especially in kittens. Roundworms, hookworms, and other parasites cause inflammation and diarrhea that lead to chronic straining.
- Severe diarrhea or constipation from dietary issues, infections, or inflammatory bowel disease.
- Colitis, an inflammation of the colon that creates a constant urge to push.
- Urinary blockages or difficulty urinating, which can cause straining that affects nearby tissues.
Kittens are especially vulnerable because their bodies are smaller and parasitic infections are common in young cats. But rectal prolapse can happen at any age.
Anal Gland Problems: Another Possibility
Cats have two small scent glands located just inside the anus, roughly at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions. When these glands become impacted or infected, they can swell significantly and create what looks like a bulge near the anal opening.
An impacted anal gland feels like a hard mass in the tissue beside the anus. If the gland progresses to an abscess, you may notice an oozing sore located right next to the anus rather than inside it. The area will likely be red, swollen, and painful to the touch. Your cat may scoot along the floor, lick the area excessively, or cry out when sitting down.
The key visual difference: rectal prolapse produces a cylindrical mass of tissue coming directly out of the anal opening itself, while an anal gland abscess creates swelling to one side of the anus, often with discharge.
What the Tissue Looks Like Matters
If you can see protruding tissue, its color tells you a lot about how urgent the situation is. Healthy prolapsed tissue is pink or reddish-pink and moist. This means blood is still flowing to the tissue, and a vet has a good chance of gently pushing it back into place.
Tissue that has turned dark red, purple, or black is losing its blood supply. This is a more serious situation because tissue without blood flow begins to die. If the prolapsed tissue looks dark, dry, or crusty, your cat needs emergency veterinary care. The longer damaged tissue stays exposed, the harder it becomes to save, and surgical removal of the dead portion may be necessary.
What Your Vet Will Do
Your vet will first examine the prolapse to determine whether the tissue is still viable. For a fresh prolapse with healthy-looking tissue, the standard approach is manual reduction, which means gently pushing the tissue back inside while your cat is sedated. To keep it in place, the vet typically places a temporary suture around the anus. This suture is tied just snug enough to prevent the tissue from slipping back out but loose enough that your cat can still pass stool. It stays in for two to three days.
Just as important as fixing the prolapse is finding out why your cat was straining in the first place. Your vet will likely run a stool sample to check for parasites, and may do bloodwork or imaging to look for underlying digestive or urinary problems. Identifying and treating the root cause is essential for preventing it from happening again.
For cats with recurring prolapse that keeps coming back after manual reduction, a surgical procedure called colopexy may be recommended. This involves permanently attaching the colon to the abdominal wall so it can’t slide out of position. A retrospective study of 14 dogs and cats that underwent this procedure found that none experienced a recurrence of prolapse during the follow-up period.
Keeping Your Cat Comfortable Before the Vet
If you notice prolapsed tissue and can’t get to a vet immediately, the most important thing is to keep the exposed tissue moist. Dry tissue becomes damaged much faster. You can apply a thin layer of water-based lubricant (like KY jelly) or place a damp, clean cloth gently against the area. Do not try to push the tissue back in yourself, as this can cause tearing or further injury without proper sedation.
Prevent your cat from licking or biting the area if possible. An e-collar (cone) is ideal. Keep your cat in a quiet, confined space to limit movement.
Recovery After Treatment
After the prolapse is corrected, your cat will likely receive a topical pain-relieving ointment applied to the rectal area. For cats that had a simple reduction with a temporary suture, this ointment is typically continued for two to three days after the suture is removed. Cats that undergo colopexy surgery generally need the ointment for five to six days.
During recovery, your vet may recommend a bland or high-fiber diet to keep stools soft and reduce straining. Stool softeners are sometimes prescribed for the same reason. The goal is to let everything heal without your cat needing to push hard during bowel movements. If parasites or an infection caused the original problem, your cat will also be treated for that underlying condition. Without addressing the root trigger, the prolapse is likely to return.
Most cats recover well from a single episode of rectal prolapse when the underlying cause is identified and treated. Kittens with parasite-related prolapse often do especially well once the parasites are cleared, since the straining that caused the problem resolves on its own.