My cat’s poo gets stuck in his fur and he’s getting it everywhere :@

You really need to get your cat used to being handled—otherwise, if there’s an injury or an accident, how are you going to treat him or give him meds? I actually trim the fur around my boy's bottom because he's so fluffy, and it's much cleaner and easier to sort out if he gets diarrhoea. My boy is a rescue, and he’s made so much progress since I got him, but he was born in the wild... He loves being stroked, but I think he must have felt threatened the first time I tried to clean him down there, and it’s been a bit of a struggle ever since.

You really need to get your cat used to being handled, because if they ever get injured or have an accident, how are you going to treat them or give them their medicine? I definitely trim the fur around the bum area; I do it for my boy because he’s very fluffy, and it’s much more hygienic and easier to clean if he ever gets diarrhoea.

Hi there, trimming the fur around the bum doesn't hurt the cat at all. Just do it during a normal grooming session, acting casually and talking to him softly. A small pair of scissors (like the ones for cuticles) will do the trick. You can also clean his bottom with some cat-specific wipes. I know it doesn't hurt him, but he won't let me get anywhere near him the moment I start touching the fur in that area. He's ended up sleeping outside because he just won't cooperate, even when I'm being gentle and giving him treats. It's just not working.

Hi there, trimming the fur around your cat’s bottom won’t cause them any pain. Just do it during a normal grooming session, without making a fuss and speaking to them softly. A small pair of scissors (like nail or cuticle scissors) will do the trick. You can also clean their bottom using specialised cat wipes.

I live on my own... well, I clean him with a flannel and then he finishes it off himself, but it’s a real ordeal as it is. He’s very particular and doesn't like being messed with—well, he's scared, really. He even hissed at me once, and I wasn't even hurting him... I’m actually wondering if it’s down to his food, because his stools were a bit soft and very smelly. I’ve headed off to work now; I just hope I don't find any more when I get back. But then again, everyone has slightly softer stools than usual from time to time.

I’d also suggest trimming it (don't use electric clippers, as he'll get scared), and it's best if there are two of you to do it. Besides that, make sure the problem isn't being caused by stools that are too soft, or alternatively too hard, and that he isn't struggling to pass them.

It’s probably best if there are two of you for this. Using a comb isn’t a great idea as it’ll just smear it around more than remove it, and if it’s already dried, it’s going to end up pulling at their fur :/ You don’t necessarily have to do a full shave, though—just trim the bits that are likely to get messy.

At the moment, my long-haired girl keeps getting a messy bum, so I’ve trimmed the fur around there to limit the damage. It doesn’t look great, but at least it gives me some peace of mind ^^ He’d never let me near him to trim them... Or maybe a de-matting rake? I’m still not convinced he’d let me, though.