Cat slipping isn’t just bad for your carpets — it’s also a sign your cat is uncomfortable. Cat flu can have a variety of causes, but the most common cause is a problem with your cat’s anal glands.
You may even notice additional symptoms, including anal licking, redness or irritation, diarrhea, discomfort, or changes in litter box habits.
To address stray cats, it’s best to see your vet for an exam to get to the bottom of the problem – no pun intended. The good news is that cat scooting is often easily treatable once the underlying cause is identified, and treating the cause of the problem often resolves the scooting problem.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about cat scooting and what you need to do to help your cat with this embarrassing problem.
What is cat scooting?
If you’ve ever caught your cat rubbing its butt on the carpet, almost as if trying to wipe itself – you’ve witnessed an episode of cat racing! Cats and dogs scurry like this when they experience itching or discomfort in or around their anal region. You may also notice other signs that your cat is unwell, such as: B. frequent licking of the area, redness, swelling, discharge or a foul odor.
Sometimes a coughing episode comes only once, and after that your cat will be fine. In other cases, your cat may continue to scurry frequently or seem distressed.
If the latter occurs, it may be time to visit your veterinarian to determine the cause of your cat’s hoof behavior and initiate appropriate treatment of the problem.
Causes of cat jump
One of the most common causes of cat slips is affected anal glands. Anal glands — more specifically called anal sacs — are tiny sacs located just inside your cat’s anus between the internal and external sphincters. These sacs contain sebaceous glands that naturally secrete fluid that is passed out of the sacs when your cat defecates.
This fluid serves as a territorial signal to other animals and can also be released when the animal is stressed or frightened. When the anal sacs are unable to drain normally due to an obstruction, infection, inflammation, or a mass in the anal sac, fluid builds up in the anal sac and causes discomfort that can lead to slipping.
Cats may also scoot when their anal area is irritated by other causes, such as: B. Itching due to allergies, dermatitis or parasites. Inflammation and discomfort can also occur due to diarrhea, constipation, matted hair around the anus, or other conditions, so it’s important to see your vet for a check-up if your cat is coughing frequently.
When to see a vet for cat scooting
Sometimes you catch your cat scurrying around and never see it again. If your cat is otherwise healthy and has no other symptoms, then this is probably nothing to worry about.
However, if your cat is coughing frequently or exhibiting other symptoms such as anal licking, redness or irritation, diarrhea, malaise, changes in litter box habits, or any other health or behavioral changes, it is best to contact your veterinarian to get checked out for the underlying cause determine the underlying cause of your cat’s walking behavior.
Your vet will likely ask you a few questions about your cat’s behavior, such as: B. when it started and how often it occurs. He or she will then do a full physical exam and may recommend some additional tests, such as: For example, analyzing a faecal sample or a blood test to determine the underlying cause of your cat’s running behavior.
Your veterinarian can also prescribe an appropriate treatment to relieve your cat’s discomfort and stop coughing.
Elizabeth Racine, DVM
dr Elizabeth Racine is a Small Animal General Veterinarian specializing in all aspects of pet health and welfare.
How to treat cat jump
Because snail behavior is most often caused by a problem with the anal glands, the first thing your vet will do is perform a rectal exam to check the anal glands and express the fluid from them. When the anal glands are full, squeezing out this foul-smelling liquid is often enough to relieve your cat’s discomfort and solve the swallowing problem.
Some cats only need to have their anal glands expressed once and then they’re good to go and never have a problem again. Other cats may need to have their anal glands checked regularly to prevent problems. Your vet will likely recommend that you monitor your cat for a recurrence of hoof behavior and, if this occurs, come in for another anal gland expression.
If your cat has chronic anal gland infection or inflammation, or if an anal gland tumor is the cause of your cat’s condition, the anal glands may be surgically removed in a procedure called an anal sacculectomy. Your vet will let you know if this procedure is necessary for your cat’s health.
If your cat’s condition is due to other underlying causes, such as diarrhea, allergies, or parasites, your vet will prescribe an appropriate treatment to address these issues. In these cases, treating the underlying cause of the discomfort will correct your cat’s walking behavior.
Home remedies for cat jumping
Although there are many home remedies for cat running on the internet, most of these treatments are ineffective as they do not address the underlying cause of the running behavior.
If your cat is coughing frequently, it’s best to see your veterinarian to have the problem addressed directly. In general, you should never try home remedies or over-the-counter treatments without first asking your veterinarian for advice.
A home remedy that’s often recommended for scooting with cats is to add canned pumpkin to your cat’s diet. The theory is that by adding fiber to your cat’s food, you “bulk up” the stool and increase the likelihood of emptying the anal glands when your cat defecates.
While this home remedy is unlikely to work, it’s also unlikely to harm your cat. However, if you do decide to try this remedy, make sure you use PLAIN canned pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling, which contains sweeteners and spices that may be harmful to your cat.
summary
While cat slipping may seem harmless, it is a sign that your cat is unwell and needs veterinary attention. Fortunately, most scooting behavior can be fixed relatively easily, but sometimes scooting is a sign of a more serious problem.
Your vet will help you determine the best course of treatment for your cat’s walking so your cat and carpets can return to normal!
