Cat Licks Vagina

Animals licking their genital areas is not something that is totally uncommon; however, it is important to understand that there are differences in why this happens among species.



Many people tend to think that since dogs do this quite often, a cat doing this, considering its penchant for cleanliness, is absolutely normal. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is because vaginal discharge from a cat is something that should not happen except after delivery in which case discharge is absolutely normal for at least six to seven weeks after delivery.

A cat licking its vagina usually means that the cat is trying to remove some kind of debris that might have gotten stuck there. This is the case when there is no discharge and is not a cause of worry unless this behavior continues for more than a few days. If there is discharge, then the equation changes dramatically.



Discharge that appears like pus is a sign that the cat is suffering from a case of vaginitis. This is an infection and subsequent inflammation of the vagina. This could be an offshoot of something getting stuck in the cat’s vagina or a bacterial infection. Treating this condition requires that you take your cat to the vet where the animal will be prescribed a course of antibiotics – topical and oral. There is a much more serious problem on your hands if your cat is bleeding from the vagina. This can occur in a disease called Pyometra. Pyometra is a disease that is caused by the natural reproductive cycle called the estrus cycle. Cats do not get periods and instead reabsorb their endometrium once the period of heat is over. In the time that they are in heat, their cervix remains open. When the cycle is over, the cervix closes again to prevent uterine damage. Where this can go wrong is when bacteria find their way into the vagina and into the cervix. If the bacteria can be expelled in the time before the cervix closes then it is a case of open pyometra and is much easier to treat.

In the other case, the bacteria can end up backed up in the cervix if the cervix closes – a case of close pyometra. This is a dangerous situation where the buildup of pus will cause a rupture of infected fluids into the peritoneum. This can cause immediate death to the animal.