Dear Sinéad, Siouxsie and Thomas:
My kitten has been showing signs of sadness. For example, he will just lay around instead of playing, like he usually does. I think he may be sick but I'm not sure. After he goes poop he will slide across the floor on his butt, as if he has an itch. Is there something wrong with my kitten?

-Mariet

Sinéad: It's a good thing you asked, Mariet. We think you have a legitimate reason to be concerned.

Siouxsie: First of all, it isn't normal for a kitten to lay around constantly instead of playing. Normal, healthy kittens will have bouts of crazy, frenetic play followed by interludes of sleep. So if your kitten is sleeping a lot and not showing interest in people or toys -- especially if he used to do so -- then something is definitely up.

Thomas: You didn't give us a lot of information, so we can't say for sure what the problem could be. But you do mention that he drags his butt on the floor after he goes to the bathroom, so that might be a clue.

Sinéad: Your kitten could be dragging his butt for a couple of reasons. First, he might have worms, and these might be causing itching in his anal area. Some types of worms can also make your cat lethargic and sick by consuming nutrients that should be going into your kitten's growing body. This can be potentially fatal for very young kittens. Also, pinworms are known to cause anal itching in cats and humans.

Siouxsie: Another reason cats drag their butts on the ground is because their anal glands are plugged up and are bothering them. Cats have glands on either side of their anus, and these expel a waxy and rather smelly substance. If the opening of these glands gets clogged, the gunk builds up inside the anal glands, causing swelling and discomfort. Anal gland problems are typically associated with constipation, and constipation is typically caused by a poor diet and lack of exercise.

Thomas: Cats normally have one or two bowel movements per day. If your kitten is having any less than that, his digestion isn't working as well as it should. If your cat hasn't passed any feces for over 24 hours, call your vet right away. Constipation can be a serious problem in cats and lead to chronic health problems such as megacolon (a stretching of the large intestine that makes it unable to process waste as efficiently as it should).

Sinéad: You did say that your kitten is pooping, so he's probably not constipated. He could still have anal gland problems or worms, though. Also, if he has diarrhea, he might be scooting on the floor to clean his butt or ease the discomfort produced by the diarrhea.

Siouxsie: We recommend that you call your vet and describe your kitty's symptoms. They will probably get you an appointment within the next couple of days. When you bring your kitten to the vet, bring a stool sample, too. Simply collect some of his poop from the litterbox (using hygienic procedures, of course!) and put it into a small disposable plastic container. On the cover, write your cat's name and the date the stool sample was taken. The vet will be able to use this sample to determine whether your kitten has worms or if there is something else in his poop that shouldn't be there, such as blood or protozoan parasites. Also, the color and texture of your cat's stool will tell the vet a lot about his overall health.

Thomas: Some other things your vet will want to know include: Has he been eating normally? Has he had a change of diet recently? Has he had any flea treatments? Has he been vomiting, and if so, what has he been vomiting (undigested food, foamy mucus, plant fragments, etc.)? Has he been exposed to other cats that might have been sick? So be prepared to answer these questions, too. If you're switching veterinarians or taking him to an emergency clinic, bring your kitten's previous health records (including vaccination information) with you.

Sinéad: It's really good that you're asking this question, Mariet. Sometimes the only sign that a cat is sick is a change in his mood.

Siouxsie: That's right. If you have a cat that's normally outgoing and active, and he starts sleeping a lot and hiding, that's a sign that something is wrong. Either the cat is under emotional stress, he's in pain, or he's suffering from a physical illness.

Thomas: Unlike dogs, cats don't advertise their pain and discomfort. Hiding their hurt is a survival tactic bred into cats through millions of years of evolution. That's why people who live with cats have to be very observant about their cats' normal behavior and any changes in that behavior. The fact that you're noticing something "off" about your kitten's behavior is a big clue that something's wrong.

Sinéad: Cats can also get emotionally depressed. I know it sounds weird, but it's true. When we lose a friend -- whether that friend is another cat, a human, or even a dog -- or if we go through a major life change, or if our person goes away for a while, it can hurt our hearts and make us very, very sad.

Siouxsie: Cats that get depressed often isolate themselves. They hide a lot, they sleep constantly, they stop asking for affection, they stop grooming themselves, and their appetites can decrease a lot. Sometimes depressed cats can get really crabby, too, and start swatting or hissing at humans or other cats. Mama tells us that a lot of humans who get depression have similar symptoms.

Thomas: In cats, it's much more common for depression to be a symptom of a physical illness rather than a mental illness caused by brain chemistry imbalances. So, if your cat is acting depressed and there's no apparent reason (the death of a companion, a change of lifestyle, etc.), it's very important that you get it to the vet and find out if there's something else going on.

Sinéad: So take that kitten to the vet, Mariet. We're pretty sure you'll find out that your kitty's problem is easily treatable, and you'll both be happier as a result.

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail us at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the material in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.