Why Does My Cat Smell Like Poop? 10 Interesting Reasons
Why does my cat smell like poop? There’s practically nothing better than cuddling with your kitty pal regularly. One of the most appealing aspects of having a cat is their cleanliness — a characteristic that cats are renowned for — but you may sometimes discover a foul odour emanating from your feline, such as excrement. Given how meticulous cats are about self-grooming, you should be concerned if your cat suddenly smells like poop. While it’s uncommon that anything severe is at hand, it’s still a problem that you’ll want to resolve as soon as possible, both for your benefit and the welfare of your cat!
In this post, we’ll look at ten possible reasons why your cat can smell like poop and what you can do about it.
Reasons Why does my cat smell like poop?
1. Dirty litter
Litter-box cleaning is just as vital as any other aspect of your cat’s care, but even if your litter box is clean and well-maintained, your cat may still smell like excrement. Some cats, particularly kittens, may accidentally play inside their litter box, smearing scat all over their fur. Furthermore, cats have an instinctive need to conceal their waste with litter or sand, which may result in their hair being encrusted with poop. Long-haired cats, such as Persians, are particularly prone to this.
This issue has an easy solution: use a self-cleaning, automated litter box. These litter boxes eliminate the mess created by cats trying to bury their waste and are far cleaner than regular boxes. However, these litter boxes may be costly, and if the price is too high for you, switching to a high-quality litter may be the solution.
2. Matted Bum Hair
Long-haired cats’ fur may get matted with poop and urine on occasion. It’s made worse by a cat with injuries that make grooming challenging. Check to see whether your cat is well-groomed. Shaving Kitty’s buttocks isn’t always the most convenient option. Inquire with your veterinarian or groomer about how to accomplish this securely.
3. Diarrhea
When it comes to your cat’s smell, loss or watery poop might be a concern. Diarrhea may become trapped in the hair surrounding and down the rear of your cat’s hind legs, which can generate a terrible odour, similar to the preceding statement. If you can wash your cat, do so to get rid of the excrement. You may also clean the area with pet wipes and cut the hair using them.
If your cat has had diarrhea for longer than 24 hours, make an appointment with a veterinarian. Long periods of loose poop may dehydrate your cat, leading to other major health problems and death.
4. Change of diet
Cats are obligate carnivores, requiring a specific diet to stay healthy and happy. A bad diet that includes too many grains, vegetables, and fruits can cause loose stool or diarrhea a sudden change in food can cause similar symptoms, such as runny poop stuck in your cat’s hair. Feed your cat the best food you can afford, with animal-sourced proteins like fish, meat, and chicken. To avoid a gastric upset, gradually transition your cat’s regular food to a different brand over a few days.
5. Infected anal glands
Felines are prone to having problems with their anal glands for various reasons. The glands near the bottoms beneath their skin can become infected, leak, or even develop an abscess if they become infected, leak, or create a spot. In this case, you should take your cat to the vet right away for a thorough examination.
If your cat is scooting on the floor, having trouble going to the bathroom, and licking or biting the area around its rear end, it’s most likely suffering from an anal gland infection or inflammation. Antibiotics may be prescribed, and the glands may be emptied if necessary.
6. Kitten Frolicking
Your kitten will most likely roll in poop and urine residue unless you’ve recently added new litter to the box. Inadvertently covering their fur with poop, most kittens enjoy a good romp in the litter box. You can either give your kitten a quick bath or wipe her down with a pet wipe when this happens. You’ll be able to eliminate the odour immediately.
If your kitten does this regularly, try distracting it with a toy. This will keep her playing time away from the litter box and the poop.
7. Digestion Issues
Sometimes, the reason your kitten smells like poop may not be visible. Kittens who suffer from digestive issues may have diarrhea, which can get stuck on the kitten’s fur or gas. Several reasons can be causing your kitten digestive issues, including:
- Consuming dairy products
- Overeating
- Fast Eating
- Eating spoiled food
- Eating foods that contain high fibre, wheat, soybeans, or corn
- Suffering from food allergies
- Poor digestion
- Hairballs
- Intestinal parasites
If your kitten has gas, you may notice that your kitten’s belly feels bloated. In addition, a kitten that has gas may become a little aloof, refusing physical proximity and playtime. Gas can sometimes bring about some discomfort. That’s why it’s essential to find out what’s causing the digestive issues and address them immediately.
8. Parasites
A parasitic infection can upset your cat’s stomach, causing severe diarrhea and poop that smell so bad that you’ll have to go to a veterinarian. Coccidian and Trichomonas are some parasites that often cause severe issues in animals, including smelly cats. However, antibiotics and other veterinarian interventions can treat conditions the parasites cause in your cat or cats.
9. Constipation
When a cat is constipated, it may be difficult for her to poop. As a result, she may pass runny poop that sticks to her fur.
Constipation can be very distressing for your kitten. As a result, it’s critical to get to the root of the problem as soon as possible. Dehydration is the most common cause of constipation in kittens. A poor diet could also be to blame.
10. Chronic Illnesses
Chronic illnesses can make it hard for a kitten to stay clean. If she’s in pain or exhausted, she may not groom herself thoroughly. As a result, the kitten’s fur may become greasy, dandruff-ridden, and stinky. A sick kitten may even become uninterested in grooming. You can gently but thoroughly groom your kitten yourself. This can alleviate her spirits a little. Then, it would help if you take your kitten to the vet so he can help you nurse her back to health.
How to Remedy Your Kitty’s Foul-Smelling Stool
Why does my cat smell like poop? Nobody likes the smell of cats’ poop. It gets even worse when the already bad smell becomes difficult to withstand from cats. But, since an infection, an inflammatory disease, gastrointestinal tract and cancer can cause discomfort and stinking poop in your best friend, it becomes necessary to treat all underlying conditions. Here’s how to deal with the issues:
1. Disinfect The Litter Box And Keep It Clean
Scoop poop from the cat’s litter box daily; you can create a schedule. Sprinkle baking soda on the litter box floor to eliminate foul odour and kill germs and other forms of bacteria. Change the cat’s litter as often as possible to keep it fresh and clean, especially if you have CatSpot coconut cat litter.
Scrub the litter box at least twice every month, from top to bottom, especially for plastic litter boxes; they easily harbour bacteria and produce a foul smell. Many owners have also considered a particular litter that changes colours depending on their cat’s health.
2. Changing the Diet
According to any veterinarian you consult, put your cat on a new diet and feeding routine for their health after determining which foods they are sensitive to. Consult a veterinarian for assistance in developing a proper diet and feeding schedule for your cats. Digestive supplements can help reduce the number of bacteria in your cat’s body, essential for their health.
Choose cat food brands that make their products with only a few ingredients. The best foods for a cat with foul-smelling stool can be found in online articles, journals, or literature resources. Use the phrase “the best cat food for stinky or foul-smelling poop.”
3. Cat Grooming
Groom, your cat to remove any foul smell on its body. Wash it with cat shampoo and comb the hairs to remove loose ones.
4. Vacuum Your House
Vacuum your draperies, area rugs, carpets, couches, chairs as often as possible, and any other areas where your cat hangs out. It will aid in the removal of dander and loss of hairs from your cat’s body, leaving it smelling fresh rather than odorous. To keep the foul smell of your cat’s poo out of your house, consider using furnace filters, air purifiers, blankets, and cat beds.
Final thoughts: why does my cat smell like poop?
There’s typically no need to be alarmed if your cat suddenly smells like excrement. The reason and remedy generally are easy, and your cat will smell fresh again in no time after a nice wash! However, if your cat’s nutrition and litter box remain customary and unchanging, there might be a more significant problem, although this is uncommon.
