Sometimes people have the expression like, why my cat smells like poop? You have heard from other cat owners too. A cat is a pet that keeps itself meticulously clean. Thus, if you are cuddling your furry cat and it smells like a filthy toilet. You must be shocked in this case.
This disgusting smell will irritate you and your cat would also not be happy to be smelly like poop. The first idea that will pop up in your mind is to bathe your feline friend. However, the cat may or may not be ready for the bath.
Normally, there are two anal glands on the sides of the anus. Through these cats produce smelling stuff. Generally, pet owners do not have any idea about the existence of these glands. Your cat may excrete the stuff if he or she feels excited or scared.
If it is possible then all your cat need is to take a bath to get rid of the expression “cat smells like poop”. But there may be some underlying causes of bad odor from your cat. Sort out whatever the reason is and then solve it properly.
Keep observing as if there is any medical issue with your kitty and fix it soon to avoid any fatal disease. Have you ever tried giving your cats some marshmallows, Green Beans, or pancakes to eat?
Why My Cat Smells Like Poop? – Reasons Behind This
There can be various causes for this problem. Normally cats do not smell like poop. If your cat is doing so then there must be some unusual phenomena that are a leading cause.
Therefore, being a cat parent, you must get to know why your cat smells like poop. What activities are your cat doing that is not a part of its routine? Cats also lick themselves or their owners to show their love.
You must find all possible solutions for the problem faced by your cat. You can easily troubleshoot in this situation. If still, you do not succeed in making your cat smell free then there must be the worst scenario. Thus, contact the vet and visit to drain your cat’s anal glands.
One of the few reasons is the diet problem. Investigate the eating habits of your cat and what stuff he or she is taking a meal.
The edible stuff can develop a displeasing odor in your cat. Also due to the unhealthy diet, your cat may have problems of digestion or diarrhea that result in a filthy litter box.
Do not let your cat go outside. Your cat may involve in the activities outside that cause your cat smells like poop. Your cat may get into the dirty garbage or chase the prey around smelly areas and thus develop a stingy smell.
Let’s explore some major reasons that cause your cat to smell like poop.
Diet Problem
Cats have more sensitive stomachs than ours. Any minor problem or diet change can cause a major problem.
If you have added something new to your cat’s diet or eliminate any stuff and you feel your cat smells like poop. Then hold on and come back to the old foodstuff and avoid this distressing smell.
Also, keep the litter box clean and tidy. Also, observe this litter box and check if there is any sign of diarrhea that is the main cause of the smell. If so, then there is the chance that poop gets stuck in the rear fur of your cat and he or she would be unable to clean it.
You can easily find when your cat is suffering from a stomach problem by watching the stained hair near the rear. You must clean it yourself to avoid any disturbing odor and any infection.
Clean your cat’s fur with wipes. Pet-specific wipes are easily available, use these instead of other wipes to avoid any allergic reaction. In case you are intended to change the feed of your cat, do it gradually rather than feed the new food all at once.
Litter Box Problem
Your cat smells like poop may be due to dirty litter. Do you change the litter box of your cat? If so, how many times do you change this? Because an unclean litter box will make your cat smells like poop. So, you should keep the litter box clean frequently or whenever needed.
Few cats, mostly kittens who are not familiar with litter box often use it to play and make fun with. In this way, they get dirty litter over themselves. That is why your cat smells like poop.
If your cat also does this litter box then there is one way to stop your cat from playing with it. You can persuade your cat by offering different toys to move it out of the box easily. Also, find a fine quality liter that is not sticky to the fur of your cat.
Untidy Cat
Maybe your cat smells like poop because of dirtiness. Cats roaming outdoors are not careful about hygiene like cats who remain indoors.
Not only simple dirtiness is the problem but parasites as well. Such parasites can affect your cat’s health and yours too.
If your cat is not ready to take bath then you can use pet-specific wipes to rub the fur and clean it. You should also use a brush to clean out the fur hair.
Anal Glands Infection
Observe your cat if it has any infection in the anal glands. Is your cat rushing on a carpet promptly? Is your cat is biting, licking, or scratching the rear side again and again? There is the possibility that your cat has got some anal gland infection.
Do not ignore this situation otherwise, you have to suffer a lot. Take your feline friend to an experienced veterinarian to drain the anal gland or remove it. In addition to this treat them with prescribed antibiotics.
this form of anal infection is a very severe problem although such cases are very rarely seen.
Kitty Tangled with Other Pet
One of the many reasons behind cat smell like poop can be the possibility that your kitten got to tangle with a pig or any other odorous wildlife.
There are various ways to get rid of this pungent smell. One ancient method is to dip your cat in tomato juice to solve this issue of the pungent smell.
If this method does not work, try another one. In this way, mix hydrogen peroxide one quarter with baking soda quarter cup. Then add a minute quantity of gentle dishwashing detergent.
Skunks also carry rabies so keep your cat safe and clean to avoid any poop like smell.
Tangled Bum Hair
If you are owning a long hair cat like the breed Norwegian Forest Cat, Maine Coon, or Persian, they have very heavy fur.
This fur can be matted with urine or fecal material. The cat having injuries and causing the grooming hard also worsen the situation. Your cat must be groomed properly.
The easiest way to avoid this issue is to shave the bum. Before doing it yourself, ask the vet’s suggestion and proper guidance about this process to be done safely.
Cat Smells Like Poop – Medical Reasons
There can be various medical reasons that are not being noticed. Following are some measures to be taken after diagnosing the issues.
Mats Affect Rear End
Always observe the fur of your cat for urine or fecal stains. If your cat is not willing to take bath then use pet-specific wipes and combs to clean your cat.
To avoid matting, it is recommended to shave the rear end once in a while. This will avoid any infectious problems.
Infected Urinary Tract
Cat’s urinary tract infection may cause poop like smell. The bacteria causing this infection can make the smell worse. You need to take your cat to the vet soon to get proper treatment against this infection.
If you own a tomcat, then sometimes he may have a urinary blockage issue. In this case, rush to the vet as soon as possible.
Moreover, any parasitic infection may cause inflammation and thus your cat smells like poop.
Arthritis Problem
One of the other reasons that make your cat smells like poop can be arthritis. Cats face difficulty in grooming, and because of arthritis, it is very painful to groom. Always contact a vet to have proper treatment.
The medication for human arthritis must not be used for cats otherwise it would be fatal for cats.
Chronic Illness Causes Stinky Cats
Are you feeling your cat is gaining weight? The overweight will make it difficult for cats to groom. Additionally, heavy cats develop folded skin thus making cleaning difficult. This will result in stinky skin so, your cat smells like poop.
A long-term chronic illness also causes fur problems including dandruff, greasiness, and disturbing odor. Such a sick cat would be no more interested in grooming.
Take notice of the vet’s instructions carefully and nurse your cat properly to make him or her healthy again. Thus, a healthy cat can groom itself and smell better than before.
How to Stop My Cat Smells Like Poop
You must scoop fecal stuff daily. By removing the stuff in the routine will lessen the smell of the litter box. You can also wash it.
Additionally, you can also replace the litter box if cannot clean it daily. You may add more than one box of appropriate sizes.
Keep all these ventilated. The use of baking soda is a perfect idea for cleaning the whole mess.
Conclusion
All in all, cats smell like poop for travel reasons such as diet problems, litter box problems, untidy cats, anal glands infection, kitty tangled with other pets, and tangled bum hair.
However, it is also medical reasons. Therefore, you need to stop this smell by contacting your veterinarian in severe cases as well as taking care of your cat as much as you can.