Anal gland problems
Cats have anal glands that can become impacted or infected, causing discomfort and scooting. Expression and antibiotic treatment resolve most cases.
Cat Symptom
My Cat Is Scooting — Expert Online Vet Help
Scooting is less common in cats than dogs but signals anal discomfort. Get a same-day assessment to check anal glands, parasites, and skin irritation around the rear end.
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When to worry about cat scooting
Expert online help when your cat is scooting
Licensed vet video assessment of your cat's rear-end symptoms
Same-day appointments — most seen within 1–3 hours
Prescriptions delivered next business day when appropriate
$65 flat fee — no memberships or hidden charges
Guidance on anal gland care and parasite prevention
Clear next steps you can follow at home
Scooting — dragging the hind end along the floor — in cats indicates irritation around the anus or anal glands. While less common than in dogs, feline scooting points to impacted anal glands, diarrhea-related skin irritation, tapeworms, or allergies.
TelaVets connects you with a licensed veterinarian who can assess your cat's scooting behavior and rear-end condition via secure video — often the same day.
Signs to watch for when your cat is scooting
- Dragging hind end on carpet or floor
- Excessive licking around the anus
- Redness or swelling near the tail base
- Visible tapeworm segments near the anus
- Foul odor from the rear end
- Straining in the litter box
- Soft stool or diarrhea
- Biting or chasing the tail
Common causes of scooting in cats
- Anal gland impaction or infection
- Tapeworms
- Diarrhea-related skin irritation
- Food allergies
- Perianal fistula or inflammation
- Constipation
- Skin infection around the anus
- Matted fur trapping feces
Why is my cat scooting?
Feline scooting has identifiable causes. Finding the source of anal irritation resolves the behavior quickly.
Parasites
Tapeworm segments around the anus cause intense itching. Cats acquire tapeworms from fleas or hunting rodents. Deworming and flea control eliminate the problem.
Diarrhea & skin irritation
Loose stool irritates the perianal skin, causing scooting and excessive licking. Treating the underlying diarrhea and keeping the area clean resolves irritation.
How our vets assess this online
Our vets assess scooting through a detailed video consultation — reviewing rear-end appearance, stool quality, and parasite exposure.
- Visual assessment of perianal redness, swelling, and matting on video
- Review of stool consistency and litter box habits
- Discussion of flea prevention, hunting behavior, and diet
- Evaluation of licking, biting, and scooting frequency
- Recommendations for deworming, anal gland treatment, or dietary changes
Treatments we may recommend
Based on your cat's assessment, our licensed vets may recommend:
Deworming medication for tapeworms (praziquantel)
Anal gland expression guidance or referral
Antibiotics for infected anal glands
Prescription gastrointestinal diet for diarrhea
Topical soothing ointment for perianal irritation
Flea prevention to break the tapeworm lifecycle
Grooming guidance for long-haired cats with matting
All medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate by a licensed veterinarian and dispensed through our FDA-compliant pharmacy.
Preventing scooting in cats
Keep year-round flea prevention current on all pets
Feed a consistent, high-quality diet to maintain normal stool
Groom long-haired cats around the rear end regularly
Keep litter boxes clean to reduce perianal irritation
Schedule regular fecal parasite screening
Why pet parents choose TelaVets
Licensed DVMs Only
Every consultation is with a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine — not a chatbot or technician.
$65 Flat Fee
One transparent price covers your full video consultation and treatment plan. No facility fees or surprise charges.
Same-Day Appointments
Most pet parents are connected with a vet within 1–3 hours of booking, 7 days a week.
Next-Day Prescriptions
When medication is appropriate, prescriptions are issued same-day and delivered to your door next business day.
Stress-Free Home Visits
Your pet is assessed in their calm home environment, which often makes symptoms easier to evaluate on video.
Secure & Private
Encrypted video calls and HIPAA-compliant records keep your pet's health information protected.
How TelaVets works
Book your consultation
Pick a same-day or upcoming slot — appointments available 7 days a week.
Connect with a licensed vet
Your vet assesses your pet via secure video, asks detailed questions, and reviews their history.
Get your treatment plan
Receive a diagnosis, personalised care plan, and same-day prescriptions delivered next-day.
What Our Pet Parents Say
Join thousands of happy pet parents who trust TelaVets for their furry family members care
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
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Frequently asked questions about scooting in cats
scooting in cats can have many causes. Our licensed vets use your pet's history, symptom pattern, and a visual assessment via video to narrow down the most likely cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
If your cat's scooting has lasted more than 24–48 hours, is severe, or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms (lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting), book a consultation immediately.
Yes. Our vets can assess your cat's symptoms via secure video, ask detailed diagnostic questions, and prescribe appropriate treatment — all without a clinic visit.
If medication is clinically appropriate, our licensed vets can issue prescriptions same-day with next-day delivery to your home.
Mild scooting often isn't an emergency, but if your cat shows severe distress, difficulty breathing, collapse, or other alarming signs, seek emergency in-person care immediately. When in doubt, book a consultation — our vets will help you assess the urgency.
Get expert help for your cat's scooting today
Same-day appointments — $65 flat fee — licensed vets