Cats spend 30 to 50 percent of their day grooming, so occasional licking of the hindquarters is completely normal hygiene. But if your cat is returning to that area repeatedly, licking for extended periods, or you’re noticing hair loss, redness, or skin irritation around the base of the tail or anus, something is probably bothering them. The most common causes are anal gland problems, parasites, allergies, urinary issues, or stress-related overgrooming.
Normal Grooming vs. a Problem
Because cats groom so frequently, most owners don’t notice a problem until there’s already visible hair loss or raw skin. The key signs that licking has crossed from routine to concerning include bald patches around the tail base or belly, skin that looks red or abraded, excessive hairballs, scooting (dragging the rear end across the floor), or a foul smell coming from the anal area. A cat’s tongue is rough enough to break the skin surface with repeated licking, which can then lead to secondary infection and make things worse.
Anal Gland Problems
Cats have two small sacs just inside the anus that normally release a small amount of fluid when they pass stool. When these sacs don’t empty properly, the material inside thickens and the gland becomes swollen and uncomfortable. This is called impaction, and it’s one of the most common reasons a cat obsessively licks or bites at the area around the rectum. You might also notice your cat scooting across the floor or being reluctant to defecate.
Impaction can progress to infection (sacculitis) and eventually to an abscess. An abscessed anal gland shows up as a hot, painful swelling on one or both sides of the anus. If it ruptures, you’ll see greenish-yellow or bloody pus draining from an opening in the skin near the rectum. A fishy, noxious odor is another hallmark. Anal gland disease is less common in cats than in dogs, but it does happen and needs veterinary attention to resolve.
Some cats are prone to recurring anal gland issues. Adding fiber to the diet can help produce firmer stools that press against the glands during defecation, encouraging them to empty naturally. Pumpkin-based supplements are a popular option. General guidelines suggest fiber should make up roughly 1.4 to 3.5 percent of a cat’s daily caloric intake, but your vet can recommend a specific amount based on your cat’s size and needs.
Tapeworms and Other Parasites
Tapeworms are a frequent culprit, especially in cats that have had fleas. The adult tapeworm sheds small segments called proglottids that migrate out through the anus. These segments are about the size of a grain of rice and can sometimes be seen crawling near the anus or on the surface of fresh stool. Once they dry out, they look like small, hard, yellowish grains stuck to the fur around the rear end.
The movement of these segments causes itching and irritation, which drives the licking. If you spot anything rice-like on your cat’s bedding, near their litter box, or stuck to the fur around their tail, tapeworms are the likely explanation. A deworming treatment clears the infection quickly.
Flea Allergies
Even a single flea bite can trigger an intense allergic reaction in sensitive cats. Fleas tend to concentrate their biting on areas a cat can’t easily reach: the back of the neck and the top of the tail base. The resulting irritation spreads to the lower back, thighs, and belly. Because cats have sharp claws and rough tongues, the scratching and licking response can create severe skin lesions surprisingly fast.
With flea allergy dermatitis, the licking and chewing often centers on the tail base and works its way toward the hindquarters. You may not even see fleas on the cat, since cats are efficient groomers and remove the evidence. If your cat isn’t on consistent flea prevention, this is one of the first things to rule out.
Urinary Tract Problems
Licking focused more on the genitals than the anus itself can point to a urinary issue. Cats with bladder infections, crystals, or stones often lick the area for extended periods after urinating, or between trips to the litter box. Other signs include straining to urinate, producing only small amounts of urine, and urinating more frequently than usual. The discomfort creates an urgency that the cat tries to soothe by licking.
A urinary blockage, particularly in male cats, is a medical emergency. If your cat is repeatedly visiting the litter box, crying while trying to urinate, or producing no urine at all, that needs immediate veterinary care.
Stress and Compulsive Grooming
Some cats develop a compulsive grooming habit rooted in anxiety rather than a physical problem. When a cat grooms, their body releases endorphins, the same feel-good chemicals that help buffer against stress. In anxious cats, this creates a self-reinforcing loop: stress triggers grooming, grooming feels good, and the behavior becomes habitual even after the original stressor is gone. The endorphins essentially act like a mild addiction, maintaining the pattern.
Common triggers include moving to a new home, the introduction of a new pet or baby, the death of a companion animal or family member, boarding, and hospitalization. The grooming can target any area, but the belly, inner thighs, and hindquarters are frequent spots. The hallmark of stress-related overgrooming is symmetrical hair loss without obvious skin disease underneath.
What to Look For
A few specific signs can help you narrow down what’s going on before a vet visit:
- Rice-like specks on fur or bedding: tapeworms
- Fishy odor, swelling, or discharge near the anus: anal gland impaction or abscess
- Hair loss at the tail base with tiny black specks (flea dirt) in the fur: flea allergy
- Frequent trips to the litter box with little urine output: urinary tract issue
- Symmetrical hair loss with no redness or bumps underneath: stress-related overgrooming
- Hot, painful swelling beside the anus with bloody or greenish pus: ruptured anal gland abscess, which needs prompt treatment
Breaking the Lick Cycle
Whatever the underlying cause, persistent licking creates its own problem. The rough tongue abrades the skin, broken skin gets infected, infection causes more itching, and the cat licks more. An Elizabethan collar (the cone) can interrupt this cycle long enough for skin to heal, though most cats find it stressful. Alternatives include recovery suits and non-toxic bitter-tasting topical products applied to the area.
These are temporary measures. If the underlying cause isn’t resolved, the behavior returns the moment the barrier is removed. Treating the root problem, whether that’s expressing impacted glands, deworming, starting flea prevention, addressing a urinary infection, or managing anxiety, is what actually stops the licking for good.