Why is my senior cat eating more, scooting, and leaking from his anus?

Question

Male cat of 11 years - never been ill. Does not go out (flat cat). 10 days ago, started eating more and also begging for food. Following day started rubbing his bottom on floor. Vet gave him quick exam and then applied a small capsule of worming liquid to cat's neck. Day after,cat discharged droplets of pinky liquid from his anus. This ceased after 2 days but has now returned. Last three hours it has happened about 8 times. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 11 years and 11 months old | 8 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor Dave! It sounds like he might have a few different things going on. The most common cause of scooting or rubbing his rear end on the floor would be impacted anal glands - this may have been the pink-tinged liquid you saw coming from around his anus. Intestinal parasites can also cause this behavior, so it's good that your vet gave him a dewormer to cover that possibility. Eating more and begging for food can be a sign of hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or a problem with absorption of nutrients from the intestines - all of these are common in middle-aged and older cats. I would recommend taking Dave back to your vet (or getting a second opinion, if needed) to check his anal glands for an infection or other problems, and to check some blood work to screen for these illnesses. They are usually quite treatable once a diagnosis is made, so it's definitely worth doing some testing to try to get an answer if you can.

Why is my senior cat eating more, scooting, and leaking from his anus?

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