My cat drags his bottom, licks, and has a red anus. What should I do?

That's definitely abnormal behavior. I would be worried about his anal glands from that description. It's possible that he had an anal glands problem at one point and developmented a scooting habit that stuck. Another possibility is that he is itchy - this can be caused by food or environmental allergies. I would recommend asking your vet if they thought a hypoallergenic diet (for allergies) or a high fever diet (like royal canin fiber response, for anal glands) would be most appropriate for him and go from there. Good luck!!!

You are better off giving him Miralax powder. The psyllium is a fiber that will bulk up the stools but it isn't really a laxative/stool softener. I would give him 1/4 teaspoon mixed in a bit of canned food every 12 hours to effect. I think this will help tremendously. https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/equate-clearlax/6000189073881 Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This happens commonly. I would add 1 tsp benefiber to the food twice daily to help with that. Try a little diaper cream around the anus to help soothe the irritated area. If he is licking excessively, I recommend an E-collar. It’s usually only necessary for about 24 hours in cases like this. Best wishes to you and Zorro!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Midnight. What a cutie! I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. A red anus can be a sign of an anal gland problem or even intestinal parasites. I hope this information helps!

I would wash it gently with a mild soap and rinse very well. If you have any a and d ointment or other diaper rash cream available then a very small amount of that applied and rubbed in well is appropriate. If in 12 hours you don’t see improvement then a visit to your veterinarian would be a good idea. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Yes, the redness could be due to irritation, and from your picture (thank you for providing one!) it doesn't look excessively red . It looks like normal mucosa to me (the membrane that lines the anal cavity), and I would not be concerned about it :-)

He may be constipated or have a partial rectal prolapse. Veterinary attention is recommended to diagnose the underlying cause prior to treatment. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites which are a common cause of the symptoms described, especially in kittens.