Why does my cat keep licking its butt? How can I prevent my cat from getting parasites?
We often notice cats rubbing their tails and rear ends, which we often don't pay much attention to. However, this could be due to parasites or fleas. If we don't actively treat our cats, it can lead to illness. Therefore, we should not ignore frequent rubbing by our cats. 
I. Reasons related to cats
1. Glandular diseases:
This is the most common reason why cats rub their rear ends. Cats have a gland on each side of their anus, and when the gland swells or becomes sensitive, the cat will rub its rear end to relieve the discomfort of the swollen gland.
2. Reproductive tract diseases and secretions:
Female animals typically display discharge from their external genitalia during estrus. Of course, cats may also display discharge if they have reproductive tract diseases. Additionally, female cats may experience intense itching of their external genitalia during inflammation or the birthing season, leading to the appearance of discharge.
3. Fleas:
Fleas love to bite or hide at the base of a cat's tail, so when a cat has fleas, it will go to or bite the area near its anus at the base of its tail.
4. Parasites:
Sometimes, when a cat has intestinal parasites, it may feel the urge to poop. However, this doesn't mean that a cat that doesn't poop doesn't have intestinal parasites! Because most cats with intestinal parasites don't necessarily poop. Whether or not there are parasites, you still need to take a stool sample to the vet for testing.
5. Regular grooming:
A cat grooming its rear end or tail can simply be part of its grooming routine. However, if you feel your cat is doing this excessively or severely, it could be a sign of illness, and you should take it to the vet immediately. 
II. Prevention of feline parasites
1. Maintain a clean and hygienic living environment for your cat, including its housing, diet, and excretion, and try not to let it roam freely.
2. Do not feed cats raw food.
3. Regularly administer deworming medication or injections to your cat.
4. Cats infected with internal parasites should be treated promptly.
Owners can prevent their cats from getting external parasites by regularly treating them for external parasites. If they are already infected, most external parasite medications (such as drops, sprays, shampoos, etc.) can resolve the issue.
Common external parasites in cats include fleas, lice, ticks, and mites. Many pet owners believe that cats kept indoors are immune to parasites, but there are many ways cats can contract external parasites, such as from cockroaches and mosquitoes. Therefore, we cannot neglect deworming our cats!
Parasitic diseases in cats are always a concern, as they are related to the safety of cats. Therefore, it is very important to regularly deworm cats, both internally and externally, which not only protects the health and safety of cats but also benefits the owners.
