Am I being ...

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2004
Am I being ...
4
Wed, 01-19-2005 - 7:43am

...too overzealous?
I adopted my male cat Foppa this past August. This behaviour started a few weeks after that. The first time I saw him scooting across the floor, I didn't think much of it and figured it was a one time thing. He didn't do it for a while, but slowly worked up to doing it daily if not more. I was given advice to have his anal glands emptied.

So in mid-October I took him to the vet and had a vet tech empty his anal glands. The scooting never stopped, just slowed down to 2-3 times a week for a while. He was even doing the night and day after he had his anal glands emptied.

A few weeks later Foppa became ill - throwing up and diarrhea. He tested positive for parasites of the GI track put on antibiotics and a special diet, litter boxes, etc were disinfected and things got a little better, but still scooting.

In November I had a foster cat (another male) living with us. Everyone was neutered and kept apart but the two males didn't like one another and it really stressed Foppa out. We were at the vet almost weekly. He was tested again for parasites but this time it came back negative. He was placed on steroids. For his entire course of steroids he was fine, no scooting observed. But as soon as he went off the steroids, the scooting began again.

The foster cat went to its new home in mid-December and I went back to the vet without the cat again and we discussed out options. He was put on fiber. It's helped with his loose stool but after longer than a month the scooting continues at least 2-3 times a week (and thats only what I see.)

So I have another appointment with the vet again today. I was told by a friend that some cats just do that. Is this true? I hate to see Foppa uncomfortable, but I don't want to be chasing a phantom cure. Has anyone else dealt with something like this before?

Foppa is six and was placed at the shelter because his previous owner had to go into a nursing home, nothing about this was mentioned in his paperwork from the previous owner either.
Thanks.

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
In reply to: boone37
Wed, 01-19-2005 - 10:19am
I have 2 cats that will do the scooting occasionally. The vet said in their cases they were just trying to stretch the gland area. They have been examined and are healthy. Maybe a little vaseline on the area would help. As long as your cat is using the bathroom properly and doesn't have worms, I wouldn't worry too much.
Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: boone37
Wed, 01-19-2005 - 11:40am

Hi Boone37.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
In reply to: boone37
Wed, 01-19-2005 - 11:45am
I have 2 cats. The only time I ever saw one of them scoot was when I had been putting a little hairball remedy in with her food and apparently it was a little too much laxative effect for her and she began smearing her poopy butt on the floor. As soon as I stopped giving her the furball remedy she stopped doing that. Iri
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2004
In reply to: boone37
Fri, 01-21-2005 - 7:41am

Ended up going to the vet yesterday instead of Wed due to a little weather problem and a huge traffic problem in and around Raleigh, NC.

The vet express his glands and then shave Foppa's rear. Basically it boils down to me being a poor or unknowledgable long-haired cat owner. It's been a learning experience with mats in the hair and now this. Who knew? So his recommendation was to keep his hair back there short and that should help the situation. As of this morning he seemed okay - although I still don't think he was happy about having to go to the vet.

 

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