Cat scooting – when should I see a vet?
Book a vet visitThis is not usually an emergency on its own – contact your vet if it lasts, gets worse or your cat seems unwell in any other way. It can happen when something is stuck around the bottom, or with blocked anal glands, an anal gland abscess, worms, itchy skin, anal furunculosis or a lump.
Contact a vet if you see any of this
- Scooting
What you can do now
- Contact your vet.
- Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
- Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
- Keep fresh water available.
- Let your cat rest somewhere calm.
Don't
- Do not give any human medicine.
- Do not wait if it gets worse.
What it can mean
Scooting is a sign that something is irritating, itchy or painful.[1] It can be linked to something stuck around the bottom, blocked anal glands, an anal gland abscess, worms, itchy skin, anal furunculosis or a lump.
Other signs that can come with it
Possible causes
What the experts say
“Something stuck on their bottom ; Worms ; Anal gland problems ; Itchy skin ; A growth”
Not sure how serious it is?
OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.
OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.
Common questions
What is scooting?
Scooting is when a cat drags their bottom along the ground.[1]
What can cause a cat to scoot?
It can be linked to something stuck around the bottom, blocked anal glands, an anal gland abscess, worms, itchy skin, anal furunculosis or a lump.
When should I contact a vet?
Contact your vet if you notice your cat scooting.[1]
Sources
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages
Vomiting
Always Hungry
Bad Breath
Blindness