Unpleasant smell from a cat: causes and methods of elimination

Do you have a smelly cat? Cats are generally known for being clean. Most of them are fastidious self-portraits of hairdressers, which keeps them away from dirt and odors. However, sometimes you may find that your cat smells bad. While some cat odors are harmless or easy to fix, others may indicate a health problem.

About cat smell

A healthy and well-groomed cat does not have a pronounced, specific odor. What is commonly called “cat spirit” is the smell of urine - pungent and occurring in the absence of regular cleaning of the room and compliance with hygiene standards. Here the culprit can be considered not the cat itself, but its owner.

If an unpleasant odor begins to emanate directly from an animal that is being monitored and properly cared for, then the reason most likely lies in certain diseases characteristic of representatives of the cat family.

The cat is a hunter, a predator by nature. Therefore, these animals are extremely clean and ensure that there are no foreign odors.

An unpleasant odor should not occur even when your pet's fur gets wet.

Outside the litter box

You may not realize that your cat is choosing a place other than the litter box to do its business until you, for example, stumble upon a landmine behind the TV. Your cat may be marking her territory by spraying or may be unhappy with the litter box situation.

Check carpets, walls and furniture to make sure your cat hasn't marked them or used them as potty spots. Use an enzymatic cleaner to clean target items, or simply throw them in the trash.

And by the way, if your cat pees or poops unusually, take her to the vet. This behavior can be a sign of many diseases.

Main reasons

According to veterinarians, the reasons that provoke the appearance of a specific, unpleasant odor from a domestic cat are:

1. Fungus - affects the perineum and armpits, groin area. You can suspect the presence of a fungal infection by such accompanying signs as redness and peeling of the skin, itching.
2. Infections of bacterial origin - may be accompanied by severe itching, redness of the skin, hair loss, and the formation of pustular formations.

A bad odor can come from under the animal’s tail, from its ears or mouth. It is important for a caring owner to carefully examine his pet to find out the causes and location of the unpleasant odor.

Wool and skin

The most common source of pungent odor is the skin and fur of baleen tabbys. The reasons may be:

1. Puberty . This problem is most common among owners of young animals, which during puberty begin to produce increased amounts of hormones in order to attract a partner. As a result, the pet's fur begins to emit a pungent odor. And besides, the cat may well begin to “mark” the territory. Proper castration or proper care of the animal after breeding will help solve the problem. If a decision has been made to castrate a cat, it is recommended to do this before puberty is completed, so that the habit of leaving “fragrant” marks does not become a habit for the animal.
2. Parasites and infections. If your pet begins to shed too often, its fur looks matted and unkempt, and also emits an unpleasant odor, then perhaps we are talking about fungal, bacterial infections of the skin, the presence of ticks or helminths. In such a situation, the best solution would be to go to a veterinary clinic and undergo the treatment course prescribed by a specialist.

Oral cavity

Acrid, unpleasant breath is also a widespread phenomenon among felines. This symptom may indicate:

• dysfunction of the digestive system;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• pathologies of the genitourinary system.

In addition, a “bad odor” from the oral cavity can occur due to chronic diseases or dental ailments.

Inspection by the owner of the purr's mouth. It is important to initially examine your pet's mouth.

A healthy cat's gums look firm and pink in color, and her teeth appear flawlessly white.

If the examination does not yield results and the animal’s oral cavity looks healthy, but its breath is harsh and stale, then the reason may lie in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or in the cat’s improper diet.

What to do. If you notice any alarming symptoms, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible, because any pathology is easier and more likely to be treated in the early stages of its development. The only exception is kittens. When babies erupt molars, specific hoods often form in the gum area, under which food can get trapped. As food rots, it begins to emit an unpleasant aroma and can provoke the development of inflammatory processes. This condition also requires medical intervention.

Preventive measures. As for prevention, experts recommend that cat owners monitor oral hygiene, promptly remove tartar, and introduce fiber or cleaning food into the diet, which can be purchased at any pet store.

Also watch the video of an unpleasant smell from a cat’s mouth, the main reasons:

Ear smell

Quite often, an unpleasant odor comes from the ears of cats. The ears of these animals are covered with sensitive skin that secretes increased amounts of wax and lubricant. When the functioning of the mucous membranes and glands is disrupted, the level of secretions produced increases significantly, which can lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor. The problem can be caused by:

1. Food allergy . A similar condition occurs when feeding an animal with baked goods, muffins, sweets and smoked meats, which disrupt the functioning of the skin and lead to hyperactivity of the ear mucous membranes.
2. Otitis and inflammatory otolaryngological diseases . Pathologies develop against the background of hypothermia, traumatic injury, and bacterial infections. The disease can be detected by the restless behavior of the pet, caused by pain, redness and hyperemia of the skin of the auditory organs.
3. Ear mite . As for infection with ear mites, owners can detect this disease by carrying out regular hygiene procedures and examinations of the pet. When infested with mites, a pronounced brown coating forms on the skin and mucous membranes of the cat's ears. If this symptom is accompanied by an unpleasant odor, then you need to consult a specialist as soon as possible.
4. Other reasons. Less commonly, diseases such as dermatitis, eczema and the entry of water or foreign bodies into the auricle can provoke a “bad” odor. You can help the animal by removing foreign objects and treating the auditory organs with hydrogen peroxide and antiseptic solutions.

Smell from the nose

Sometimes a rotten, slightly sweetish, unpleasant odor begins to emanate from the nasal passages and secretions of the animal. The reason most often lies in the accumulation of pus that has stagnated in the sinuses. This is evidenced by abundant discharge of yellow, white or greenish color.

Diseases of fungal origin that arise against the background of a weakening of the general immune system and the body’s own defenses can also provoke a similar problem. Nasal discharge with a specific odor can also accompany bacterial, viral and infectious processes that occur in a chronic form.

Urine smell

Sometimes even neat and clean owners are faced with such a problem as the sharp and pungent smell of cat urine, which persists even with regular, timely cleaning. This symptom may indicate various health problems with the cat, for example:

1. Incorrect diet and errors in feeding your pet . Errors in nutrition lead to oxidation of urine, giving it a persistent and pungent odor.
2. Stagnation of urine (urine) . More often, the acrid aroma of urine with “notes” of ammonia occurs due to compression of the ureters, or the presence of urolithiasis in the animal. The main reason is stagnation of urine, as a consequence of the inability to completely, timely empty the bladder.
3. Hormonal imbalances . Cat urine acquires a more pronounced and stronger aroma during puberty, as well as during the breeding season. This is considered one of the manifestations of the norm. If this happens at other times, then the best solution would be to contact a veterinarian and conduct a full examination.

Getting rid of “fragrances”. Proper treatment will eliminate the root causes of the problem, and you can get rid of its consequences by resorting to simple and effective methods:

1. Bleach – perfectly disinfects and eliminates unpleasant odors. In order to remove the smell of cat urine, simply thoroughly wash the floor in the room using water with a small amount of bleach diluted in it.
2. Vodka works great on fresh traces of cat urine and kills odors.
3. Vinegar and baking soda are an excellent remedy for removing even the stagnant smell of cat urine. To do this, you need to prepare a solution by taking the bite and water in proportions of 1: 3. Then pour a little soda on the source of the pungent odor, spray with vinegar solution and wipe with a clean rag. You can also add peroxide to the soda and let it sit until the morning, after which you can simply treat the surface with clean water.
4. Lemon acid. Lemon juice diluted in a glass of water is an excellent remedy for combating any pungent odors, including cat urine.

By the way, the last recipe is also appreciated because the smell of lemon repels all baleen-striped animals, so that the animal will never use the treated area as a toilet again.

Unpleasant smell from under the tail

The appearance of a foul odor from under your pet's tail is a serious sign indicating inflammation or blockage of the anal glands. This pathological condition can be provoked by improper feeding, heredity, or genetic predisposition.

The anal glands are cleaned only in a specialized clinic by a doctor. Next, the animal is prescribed a diet and symptomatic treatment. It is very important to eliminate the root causes of the problem in a timely manner so that inflammatory processes and blockage of the anal glands do not become chronic, recurrent in the animal.

How to get rid of the problem

Often, cats have bad breath due to the fact that the pet was given the wrong food. In this case, to get rid of the smell, you will have to adjust the menu.

Also, all kinds of gels, sprays, powders and tablets that will help remove the odor, disinfect the oral cavity and destroy plaque on the teeth are great for getting rid of bad breath.

Important! Veterinarians do not recommend frequently using odor removal products, as they can trigger the development of allergies in the animal.

Prevention measures

In order to maintain the health of the pet and not face such a problem as an unpleasant, pungent odor from the cat, owners should follow a number of recommendations:

1. Maintain cleanliness. Regular cleaning of the litter box, washing and replacing covers on the cat's bedding will prevent even the faintest cat odor from spreading throughout the room.
2. Bathe your cat as the need arises, taking into account age, lifestyle, and coat type.
3. Take care of the cleanliness of the coat, comb it regularly, inspect the ears, nose, mouth, promptly clearing them of dirt.

Selection of food and proper feeding. No less important than maintaining hygiene standards is proper feeding of the cat. When using ready-made feeds, it is necessary to give preference to high-quality, good products. The use of low-quality industrial feed for a long time often causes an unpleasant odor from the cat’s fur, feces, and also from the oral cavity.

It is completely necessary to exclude foods such as salt, sugar, spices, smoked meats, sweets, and flour products from your pet’s diet.

Feeding such forbidden delicacies often provokes food allergies, damage to the sebaceous and skin glands, leading to the appearance of a foul odor.

What makes a cat smell like rotten meat? If your cat smells like rotten meat, it needs to be treated.

As a rule, no foreign odor is felt from a healthy cat; amber appears only during the development of pathology. There are a lot of diseases in which a cat smells of rotten meat or other unpleasant odor.

Most often, a cat smells of rotten meat due to diseases of the oral cavity. These ailments include: stomatitis, pharyngitis, glossitis, tumors in the mouth, papillomatosis, various wounds, cysts.

The condition of the teeth also has something to do with the smell of the animal. Tartar, pulpitis, osteomyelitis, caries, periodontitis - all these pathologies affect the smell. Most often, such ailments occur in animals with flattened faces, the so-called brachycephalic breeds. In young animals, an unpleasant odor may appear due to a delay in changing teeth, as well as due to an incorrect bite.

The smell of rotten meat can be caused by foreign bodies that somehow get into the animal’s mouth. Thanks to them, cracks are formed in the oral cavity, in which food particles remain, which in turn creates excellent conditions for the development of pathogenic flora.

Quite often, a foul odor can be heard from cats suffering from diabetes. In addition, the smell of rotten meat can indicate diseases of the internal organs: liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and even lungs. As a rule, a symptom of any of these diseases is not only an unpleasant odor, but also the cat drinks an excessive amount of water, looks sick, and eats poorly.

If there is even the slightest sign that the smell of rotten meat is associated with the internal organs of the cat, then the animal must be urgently shown to a veterinarian so that he can conduct an examination, diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment.

If a putrid smell appears, this may indicate digestive disorders, so the owner should reconsider the pet’s diet. Feeding low-quality or dry food causes serious damage to internal organs; therefore, it is recommended to switch a sick cat to natural food, which is most suitable for the breed and age of the animal. Neglecting this recommendation can lead to aggravation of the situation, including the development of oncology of internal organs.

Treating an unpleasant odor, regardless of the cause, will require time and effort from the owner. First of all, the veterinarian will suggest taking tests, since it is not always possible to diagnose blindly, based on external signs alone. Also, specialists carefully examine the cat’s oral cavity, and most often the animal is given a sedative, and in special cases, general anesthesia is used.

Diseases of the internal organs are treated under the supervision of a veterinarian, but if the odor comes from tartar, then it can be removed using special gels and brushes, which can be purchased at animal pharmacies.

If there are ulcers or other damage to the mucous membrane, the animal’s mouth is treated with chlorhexidine or another similar antiseptic.

Preventive measures for this pathology include regular care of the cat’s health. The owner must regularly take the animal for examination to the veterinarian, brush the pet's teeth daily and feed only high-quality, natural food.

In conclusion, it should be said once again that an unpleasant odor from a cat cannot appear just like that; as a rule, this indicates some kind of violation, so a caring owner must be wary and show the animal to specialists.

When a cat stinks, there are physiological and pathological reasons. In the first case, the situation is less dangerous, and the unpleasant odor is associated with the diet and characteristics of the pet’s body. If the pet suddenly begins to smell bad, while other unpleasant symptoms and changes in the cat’s behavior are recorded, then this indicates pathology. If your kitten starts to smell, it is recommended to take him to the vet.

Treatment

Treatment of bacterial dermatitis

Antibiotics (for example, ampicillin, cephalexin, clindamycin, enrofloxacin) are used to treat bacterial skin diseases. There are other methods:

• Local treatment. Shampoos and conditioners containing benzoyl peroxide (eg, Oxidex) or chlorhexidine (eg, Hexadene) may be prescribed. In the area where the bacterial infection is localized, you can use Bactoderm.
• The minimum treatment period for superficial pyoderma is 3 to 4 weeks, and for deep pyoderma - 8 weeks.

Treatment of Malassezia dermatitis

• In severe cases, combination therapy is prescribed. It is important to know that griseofulvin is not effective in treating fungal infections. Ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole may be prescribed to treat Malassezia dermatitis.
• Local treatment is effective in mild cases, but in severe cases, selenium sulfide is usually used (effective in 65 percent of cases).
• Ketoconazole (Nizoral) shampoo is approved in many countries for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in humans and is also used to treat Malassezia dermatitis in dogs.
• 2-4 percent chlorhexidine is effective against fungus.
• The use of miconazole or derazol is also successful.
• Rinsing fungal-affected skin areas with vinegar and water is a cheap and effective treatment.

You should bathe your cat using medicated shampoos. Benzoyl peroxide is an excellent antibacterial agent (for example, Oxidex). You can also use other shampoos containing miconazole or ketoconazole (for example, Nizoral).

For effective treatment, shampoo must be applied to the pet’s skin and not rinsed off for 10-15 minutes.

Your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics or antifungal medications to treat the infection. It is necessary to adhere to all doctor's instructions and take medications regularly.

If your pet has relapsed, you will need to contact your veterinarian for more appropriate treatment.

Accompanying symptoms

If a smell occurs from the mouth, the owner should pay attention to the accompanying signs:

• lethargy of the animal, apathy;
• refusal of food, water;
• fever, increased temperature;
• the cat wants to eat, but it clearly hurts when eating, he holds his head sideways or tries to take food with the side, where it hurts less;
• inflammation, redness and bleeding of the gums, ulcers on the tongue, mucous membranes;
• nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• increased thirst;
• the smell of acetone, urea, sweetish apple often accompanies serious diseases of the internal organs - kidneys and liver.

Strange behavior of the animal, sudden weight gain or loss of weight along with the smell should alarm the cat owner and force him to immediately visit the veterinary clinic.