just adopted a Manx... Have a question...

[JohariZ]

So I just adopted a Manx kitten from a friend of mine. He seems to have a problem with his poopie... He had poo caked all over his anus when I got him, I washed it all off and is anus is sticking out a bit (not a prolapse really) and it seems like he's just about ready to poo all the time. I'm concerned that this maybe a condition of Manx Syndrome, and that would just be terrible. There would be nothing that I could do for him. Dimitri (the kitten) is a rumpy, which means no tail at all.

So, does anybody know of any resources I could use to figure out what it is?

[strangeduck]

Poor baby...whatever it is must be bothering him, since cats are really clean animals and he probably really hates to be dirty like that.  I think a vet visit is in order.  Kittens often have worms and other parasite issues, your vet can worm him for you and check to make sure everything is physically where it ought to be.  Your vet can also advise you if the problem stems from food issues.  Any time you have a problem with what's coming out, you need to make sure that it's not caused by what's going in.  After all, if he's having constant diarrhea or other fecal issues, he's probably not absorbing all the nutrients he needs before it passes out of his system.

[Marybelle]

Yeah, parasites can sometimes cause intestinal upset, which then manifests as a sore, swollen anus.  I second the vet visit. 

[Pink]

Have you taken your manx to the vet?  I've worked at cat shelters, and been at others, and about every one has a resident manx with this problem.  It is a lifelong problem where they cannot control their GI tract.  They need special food, and someone who really loves them.  At one of the shelters we kept our manx in a large cat cage during the day when no one could be there with him so he didn't create a mess.  At night he got to run around free with the other cats.  Several companies make large cat cages, and they could be necessary if you leave the house for long periods of time.  With proper vet care your cat can live a happy life, but they will always have gi tract problems.

I am absolutely against the manx breed for this reason.  Did you know that the rumpy gene is partially lethal?  I just cannot believe they let this breed continue, I don't care if its a "historic breed" or any of that poop.  The cats are unhealthy, and die.  End of argument.

Pink

[JohariZ]

the little guy had to be put down... He had the manx syndrome... and it was the most humane thing to do.

[Pink]

I'm sorry, its always hard to deal with bad breeding, no matter what species.  I'm sorry you had to go through this.  I wish people would just get over their fascination with mutilated animals.

Pink

[JohariZ]

True. I only took him because my friend's cat had the kittens, an accidental litter... A week before her spay was scheduled, she got out of the house, was gone for three days, and came back pregnant. My friend couldn't terminate the pregnancy, so four kittens were born. Two rumpy Manx, and two that were normally tailed cats. I don't know how the other Manx fared..... But little Dimitri's condition was so poor that it was the best thing to do to euthanize... The vet said that he most likely would lose complete function of his bowels and other nerves within months... It was the worst ever.