Any ideas?

[slleipnir]

The cat is probably a few years old atleast...I think she was spayed as a kitten.

[sandragonfly]

I'll let him know that. If it is anal glads is it similar to what dogs get? Josie used to drag her butt on the floor a lot and needed her glands expressed...is it the same idea?

yup, same as dogs. the odor substance that express by pooping (or spontaneously by being alarmed) and if he says it's really smelly then yeah, must be anal glands (unless coming from somewhere else than rectum). my few of cats just had expressed and sometimes it gets on me before they could get a chance cleaning it up.

I wouldn't be worried but if the cat continues doing so, rubs, wipes, licks his rectum too often, he may have anal sacs infected and should be checked, and expressed regularly by vet. unless you can too, it's not too hard. but use some gloves - the smell doesn't get rid of easy!