Cat sledding – what does it mean, and why does your cat do it?

Have you noticed that your cat is sledding??At first glance, this may seem funny or strange, but it indicates a medical problem that needs to be addressed and absolutely cannot be ignored by the caregiver.

What is “sledding”??

Well, it sounds pretty nice, and most of us probably associate it with sledding.That's not the way.Sledding is nothing more than sliding or sliding on your bottom across the floor or carpet.We tend to associate this behavior more with dogs, but cats do it too.

Why does the cat slide around??

Scratching is most often caused by itching, pain, or irritation, and can also occur after a cat uses the litter box.If you notice that your cat is dragging its hind legs, be sure to take it to the vet to rule out any of the following conditions:

• blocked perianal glands – as the name suggests, this occurs when the glands located on either side of the anus do not empty properly, and their secretions begin to accumulate inside, which can lead to discomfort, pain, and even infection;
• internal parasites – this symptom may occur in cases of internal parasite infestation, so it’s always a good idea to check when your pet was last dewormed and run tests to rule out this cause;
• diarrhea or constipation – problems with normal bowel movements can also cause sledding in animals.Whether this is due to diarrhea or constipation, the situation requires immediate contact with a veterinary clinic;
• foreign object – sometimes, when a cat is defecating, a foreign object it has previously ingested (such as a thread, a piece of string, or a blade of grass) gets stuck, and the cat tries to remove it by squatting.If this happens, you should never try to remove the object yourself; instead, take your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible to receive professional care;
• itching of unknown origin – sometimes sledding is accompanied by itching.To determine the cause, it is often necessary to conduct specialized tests.It’s a good idea to discuss them with your veterinarian;
• food allergy – although this is a fairly rare occurrence, there are cats for whom sneezing is one of the symptoms...food allergy.In that case, it is necessary to go through the entire elimination diet process to rule out any potential allergens from the cat’s diet;
• dirty fur/reluctance to bathe – this is the most common situation: the cat rubs its fur on the carpet because it has no intention of washing it… yes!This really does happen, especially with long-haired cats.In that case, it’s a good idea to keep the fur around the tail area a bit shorter, which should make it easier to keep your cat clean.

Don't panic, but don't ignore it

As you can see, sledding isn’t something that would endanger a cat’s life at that moment, but this symptom should certainly not be ignored.

Remember that a cat's bottom is very sensitive to pain.If you notice that your pet is squinting, you can be sure that it is experiencing some discomfort, so take it to the vet immediately.

CAT BEHAVIOR EXPERT
Małgorzata Biegańska-Hendryk