Originally, kittens with a lovely scent suddenly start emitting a bad smell, which is usually a sign that something’s wrong with their health. As cat owners, you need to keep a close eye and stay alert! The reasons why cats might smell bad include:
- Skin Problems Causing the Odor, such as ear mites, parasite infections, or seborrheic dermatitis;
- Oral Issues Leading to Bad Breath, like tartar buildup, mouth ulcers, or stomatitis;
- Digestive System Problems Causing the Odor, commonly from indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, or anal gland inflammation;
- Urinary System Issues Leading to Bad Smells;
- Environmental Factors Causing the Odor, like not cleaning the litter box on time or not changing the litter regularly, which can make your cat’s body smell strong!
Cat owners know that even though kittens don’t bathe often, they usually smell great! Their heads smell like buttery bread, their bodies like toasted toast, and their paws like popcorn—every day we can’t stop sniffing our kittens!
But sometimes, cats can stink! Bad breath, body odor, stinky paws, and smelly bottoms! So what causes cats to have these odors?
- Skin Problems Causing the Odor 1.1 Not Bathing for a Long Time: If your cat is too dirty and smells a bit bad, it’s normal. → Bathing can remove this odor. If the cat doesn’t look dirty but still smells bad and your hands feel greasy after petting its fur, it might have a skin infection. 1.2 Ear Mites: Symptoms: Brownish secretions in the outer ear canal, along with a bad smell. Cats often scratch their ears, shake their heads, and have watery eyes. → Solution: Regular deworming + ear wash + applying ear medication + putting a cone on the cat to prevent ear scratches. 1.3 Parasite Infections: Symptoms: Scabs, itching, rashes on the skin. In severe cases, it can cause red patches, hair loss, seborrheic dermatitis, skin ulcers, and other skin issues. → Solution: Regular deworming. 1.4 Seborrheic Dermatitis: Symptoms: Large amounts of yellow oil on the fur, a lot of oily secretions on the skin surface, and accompanied by a bad smell. → Solution: Clean the oil on the cat’s skin surface + antibacterial treatment + systemic use of corticosteroids once daily + supplement with nutrition and vitamin B + light diet + keep the affected area clean and dry.
- Oral Issues Leading to Bad Breath
A cat’s bad breath may be caused by dental calculus, mouth ulcers, or stomatitis. When cats lick their fur, the bad breath can stay on their bodies.
→ Regularly brushing your cat’s teeth or using oral sprays can effectively prevent and improve oral problems.
- Digestive System Problems Causing the Odor
If the bad smell mainly comes from the tail area, it might be related to the digestive system. Indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, or anal gland inflammation can all produce unpleasant odors.
→ For digestive issues, adjust your cat’s diet or give probiotics to improve.
→ For anal gland inflammation, regularly clean the anal glands and treat with anti-inflammatory measures.
- Urinary System Issues Leading to Bad Smells
When a cat’s urinary system has problems, the smell of the urine can be more pungent.
→ If you smell urine odor (like ammonia) on your cat for a long time, it might indicate a urinary system issue, and you should see a vet promptly.
- Environmental Factors Causing the Odor
If the litter box isn’t cleaned on time or the litter isn’t changed regularly, it can cause your cat to pick up the smell of litter and feces.
→ Keep your home clean, regularly wipe the cat’s bed, litter box, and food bowls, and avoid clutter that can cause bad smells.
