Dmitri has had this problem for years, and has to go in regularly to
have them expressed. The glands fill up with some kind of crud, like
toothpaste in D's case, and she has to squeeze it out. He screams, but
then feels so much better.

I've talked with my vet and other cat lovers about having them removed,
and overall, the answer is no. You *can* have them surgically removed,
but the problem is that they have to cut through some major muscle in
the rectum or something like that, and often, it leaves the cat with
chronic diarrhea. The surgery may take care of the anal glands (which
the cat doesn't need), but often leaves larger problems.

You can learn to express these glands yourself, but I've just never had
the stomach for it myself because of the way he screams. The squirting
part would be okay, but I have to leave the room when it's done because
it hurts me to hear him scream like that. But I know other cat owners
who do their own without problems. Your vet might be able to teach you
how, or you can also apparently get it done at grooming places.

It's a lot more common in dogs.

Another thing that has helped Dmitri is adding some fiber to his diet
because when they get full, he can have trouble pooping, and then he
feels terrible. So I give him baby food peas (he loves regular peas and
always has, but leaves a bird trail of peas all over the house), and I
add canned pumpkin to his canned food. This has made a big difference
for him.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news on the removal...that was my first
question too. Would be so much easier on him to just have those glands
snipped out, but I guess it's a lot more complicated than tonsils.

Good luck,

Juls