Not Urine

Question
QUESTION: I have a female Cat that's 1 yr and a new male addition to the family.  The female just had a litter. All is well with them but the other day I was at a friends house with my little ones and well my friend has four dogs.  I know... I know.... they don't like each other for the most part.  But the dogs went to attack the cats through the kennel door.   Then I took the cats outside to calm them down and I went to touch my cats and they smelt like a dead body??????  What is that??  Do they spray something as a defense mechanism? I have smelt it before on her dogs I was thinking maybe that night I smelt it they had gotten ahold of another cat.  I'm confused and can't find anything about it on the Internet.  Please help!

ANSWER: Your cats were so scared that they released their anal glands and it got all over them. That is what you are smelling. They will clean it up but the smell is hideous and it takes days for it to go away. You might want to wash all the bedding with a small amount of bleach.

You are very fortunate that your cats are even alive. Get the female spayed when these kittens are 6 weeks old and I sure hope your male cat is neutered too. If not, get him done the same day as her.

You shouldn't be traveling around with your kittens anyway- that is how they pick up leukemia, distemper and other viruses.
They need to stay home and in one place.
I don't understand why you would take them to a friends house with 4 dogs in the first place?  Poor scared kitties!!

At least they are all okay now.
Clean out the kennel and the bedding and leave them home from now on!


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well your response was very wise and very quick.  But your attitude was uncalled for.  FYI  I am in the middle of moving and due to the hurricane the electric companies are on standby and could not turn my electric on till next week. Virtually everything is closed in this town. So I figured rather than leaving them in 100 degree temps I put them in kennels in the A/C. The dogs are in door dogs and I had no where else to go my parents are dead.   She is the only person I know here.  It's late go to bed.  Please.

Answer
I am sorry you are dealing with the Hurricane down south. However, I had no way of knowing this because you did not tell me that. If you re-read your question to me, it sounds like you were just over there visiting. I didn't mean to sound harsh but believe me, some people don't understand what kind of trauma dragging cats around can do to them.
Forgive me for not knowing your situation. I will pray that you and all of your precious babies make it through this terrible storm season intact and well. I have a dear friend who lost his beloved dog to Katrina.
Take care and I am sorry if I offended you.