First, the story: I have a 9-month old neutered tom called Toby. He
had something stuck to his chest and I wanted to find out if it was a
tick or just a burr. So I took hold of him and put him on his back on
my lap. He slightly freaked and I smelt a distinct vinegar odour; then
I realised there was liquid on my leg. I checked his rear end and
there was a drop of brown liquid on his anus.
I daresay you've worked it out: Toby had expressed his anal glands.
But what about this "distinct vinegar odour"? From what I've read,
"butt juice" smells unspeakably vile to most people. To me it just
smells like vinegar. I must be genetically equipped to be a crazy cat
lady. Does anyone else not mind cats' anal gland smell?
At any rate, thanks to these groups, I know what this smells like to
the majority.
I have quite a good sense of smell in general.