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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / March 2004sorta smelly cat... what can it possibly mean.
Hi all, I have a friend who is worried that her "smelly cat" (although I dont think it is that smelly, the cat does not smell half as bad as most dogs) may have some sickness with the symptom being the smell. There is a slight smell in the fur of this nice stubbed tailed cat which is not found on my cat that I bathe regularly. So my question is: Does anyone here know of a cat sickness where an unusual odor is a symptom? If a cat is not bathed or wiped down with a damp cloth with regularity will it just naturally have a certain "cat odor"? Are some cats just naturally smellier than other cats? My theory is that the cat is not chewing its food properly and may be spreading some little food particles on its fur when it cleans herself and that is generating the smell. Also, can diet affect the smell in some cats? For instance, a cat may have a certain reaction (maybe a smelly one) to a certain brand of food? Thanks for all information, Stephen I have three cats, all with beautiful coats and no smell (in fact they have a delicious warm fur smell). I have never bathed any of them, ever! They are indoor cats, they clean themselves and eat healthy food. My point is that I don't believe cats need to be bathed unless they get dirty, behind in their grooming, or if their person has allergies :) My suggestion would be a visit to the vet to make sure there's no health problem! Judy F > Hi all, > I have a friend who is worried that her "smelly cat" (although I [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Thanks for all information, > Stephen >I have a friend who is worried that her "smelly cat" (although I >dont think it is that smelly, the cat does not smell half as bad as >most dogs) may have some sickness with the symptom being the smell. She could have impacted anal glands. That would smell like bad poo. Sometimes stubbed tail cats have these issues. If she has gum disease, dental issues, that could give her bad breath which she then licks all over her fur. She could have a skin issue which causes smelly skin. What does it smell like? > >I have a friend who is worried that her "smelly cat" (although I > >dont think it is that smelly, the cat does not smell half as bad as [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > that could give her bad breath which she then licks all over her fur. She could > have a skin issue which causes smelly skin. What does it smell like? I have never had an indoor cat that smelled bad in any way unless there was an underlying health problem. However, if a cat goes outside, it might like to, well, roll in things we don't think smell all that great. Of course, the normal smell of a cat might be offensive to non-cat people, but this doesn't sound like that to me.  Signature-- ~kaeli~ The definition of a will?... (It's a dead giveaway.) http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace > She could have impacted anal glands. That would smell like bad poo. Sometimes > stubbed tail cats have these issues. If she has gum disease, dental issues, > that could give her bad breath which she then licks all over her fur. She could > have a skin issue which causes smelly skin. What does it smell like? The smell seems to me to be kinda like a dog except not as bad. This is an inside cat that has no potential to get into anything too nasty, so the smell is not from her rolling around in some nastiness. Stephen >The smell seems to me to be kinda like a dog except not as bad. This >is an inside cat that has no potential to get into anything too nasty, >so the smell is not from her rolling around in some nastiness. Dog smell sounds like a dental issue, or skin problem. Smell the cat's breath and not right after dinner. Does it smell similar? If so, a teeth cleaning may be in order. Look at the cat's skin. Is it dry, scaley, red, have a yellow film on top? Could be dermatitis, psoriasis. Does she itch a lot? Is she heavy? Maybe she can't bend around to clean her parts? Just some ideas. > >The smell seems to me to be kinda like a dog except not as bad. This > >is an inside cat that has no potential to get into anything too nasty, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > on top? Could be dermatitis, psoriasis. Does she itch a lot? Is she heavy? > Maybe she can't bend around to clean her parts? Just some ideas. The OP could take a look at the gums and see if there is redness or swelling apparent. If something can be observed it certainly is part if not all of the problem. Some cats can have a very subtle kitty smell but if it is strong enough to be unpleasant then something is brewing somewhere. IMO W >>I have a friend who is worried that her "smelly cat" (although I >>dont think it is that smelly, the cat does not smell half as bad as [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >that could give her bad breath which she then licks all over her fur. She could >have a skin issue which causes smelly skin. What does it smell like? I would second the anal gland possibility. My cat had this once many years ago. I can't describe the smell. It wasn't horrible, but it was noticeable. It was an odd smell that I have never smelled again. In my cat's case, I saw her messing with rear end, and that usually means that she has a piece of poop caught in her hair, or hanging by a hair (she has long hair, so sometimes it goes between poops and needs to be cut to give her relief. Just as I looked, I saw some white stuff quirt out. Definitely anal glands. I took her to the vet, and they expressed it for her. They also checked and found worms. That was what was bother her and caused the impaction. So, we got wormer pills for everybody, and that was the end of that problem. She'ss 11 and only had the problem once. It wasn't a serious life threatening problem at the time, but it did need to be taken care of since it could get worse, and it was certainly bothering her. I would take the cat in for a vet check. If it is Anal glands, then the vet will probably recognize the smell. If a cat has recurring problems with teh anal glands, they can be surgically removed. My vet recommended it only if the cat has problems on a frequent basis. Once or twice isn't a big deal. Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com Cats normally don't smell bad, even if not given baths. So... a couple of ideas: a vet can check for dental disease - you or she can smell the cat's breath, to see if the odor's emanating from the mouth. Actually, vets do often smell a cat's breath at check-ups, since certain oral odors are characteristic of certain diseases. Or possibly, if the smell's emanating from the cat's opposite end, the fur on his/her rear could have some leftover urine, or more likely - poop - stuck in it. Or possibly the anal sacs need to be expressed. Cathy -- "Staccato signals of constant information..." ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon > Hi all, > I have a friend who is worried that her "smelly cat" (although I [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Thanks for all information, > Stephen Stephen, I just had another thought...it could be possible that the kitty has an abscess that's hidden by his fur. That would also cause an odor. Sherry >Stephen, I just had another thought...it could be possible that the kitty has >an abscess that's hidden by his fur. That would also cause an odor. Good point. How is the cat's appetite. Is he feeling okay? Acting normally? My cat had an abcess last year. He is a dark grey cat, and the wound was right under his tail, next to his anus. Extremely hard to see, just inside the hair line. I realized he didn't seem to be feeling well, so I tested him with a can of cat food. Not interested. Maynard not interested in food? That means something is very wrong. So, I started doing an inspection. I had no idea what I was looking for, but looked anyway. When I moved his tail, he cried out. Hmm. Something wrong with his tail? So, I started looking more. I suspected his anal glands, so I was looking there, but I didn't see anything. I was about to give up, but decided I would look again with a flashlight since it was hard to see with his tail and fur in the way. I cauht a flash of red. Then I couldn't see it. I really had to search to find it again, and that is when I saw the abcess. It was a small area, about the size of two pencil erasers, and it was red like raw meat. Ooh! This is bad! It was 3am, so decided to go to the vet in the morning as soon as I got up. I looked again in the morning, and it had burst. It was horrid looking. So, I took him to the vet. They agreed with my assessment, and also explained that his tail was sore because of the muscles there. They kept him for the day, gave him some meds, cleaned it all out, and also took blood since he was almost 17 and a little underweight (mostly because he had stopped jumping to the counter to eat since his tail hurt). He was much better that evening when I picked him up. The vet was impressed at how good he was, a real gentleman (always has been), and they didn't have to drug him or anything, he was so good. He was eating just fine, and I fed him specially so that he wouldn't have to jump. And his bloodwork came back great. Only issue was high white blood count which is normal with an abcess. He healed very quickly, and he has a little white scar where it was, if you know where to look. I would definitely do a body search as there may be a sore spot you don't know about, and you would want to get it taken care of as quickly as possible. I was really worried that Maynard would be high risk with his age, so I was very relieved when he healed yp quickly. I was really upset that I had let it get so bad, but it was so hard to see. I make sure i do my full body massages more often since it gives me an opprtunity to check him out for bumps, brusies, and wounds. And I remind the other kitties not to bite him in the butt! Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com >My cat had an abcess last year. He is a dark grey cat, and the wound >was right under his tail, next to his anus. Extremely hard to see, >just inside the hair line. Don't feel bad. Frank had one, too. (remember, the Balinese like yours). He's so furry you couldn't even see it. When he'd jump in my lap, he smelled vaguely like..well...like a dirty dishrag, a soured smell. It got stronger and I had to go through him with a comb before I found it. Ssherry >> My cat had an abcess last year. He is a dark grey cat, and the wound >> was right under his tail, next to his anus. Extremely hard to see, [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Ssherry And some abcesses can develop just under the surface (iceberg abcesses). They can be tough to find. Karen >>> My cat had an abcess last year. He is a dark grey cat, and the wound >>> was right under his tail, next to his anus. Extremely hard to see, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >And some abcesses can develop just under the surface (iceberg abcesses). >They can be tough to find. I've never heard of those, but it makes sense. How do they find them? Or is it found when it finally breaks open? Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com >>>> My cat had an abcess last year. He is a dark grey cat, and the wound >>>> was right under his tail, next to his anus. Extremely hard to see, [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Equine and Pet Photography > http://www.zoocrewphoto.com The vet found a friend's cat's abcess like that through an xray. Karen >The vet found a friend's cat's abcess like that through an xray. Wow! What made them to decide to do an x-ray? Were they looking for something else or just out of stuff to try? Also, do you know how it showed up on the xray (what it looked like)? Thanks! Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com >> The vet found a friend's cat's abcess like that through an xray. > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Equine and Pet Photography > http://www.zoocrewphoto.com She had a mysterious limp that appeared off and on. I don't know what it looked like on the xray actually. Karen >>My cat had an abcess last year. He is a dark grey cat, and the wound >>was right under his tail, next to his anus. Extremely hard to see, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >like..well...like a dirty dishrag, a soured smell. It got stronger and I had to >go through him with a comb before I found it. My balinese had a problem when she was about 4 months old. I forgot about it as it was so long ago, and while it was infected, I never called it an abcess. She had bites on both ears, very infected. But she had such fluffy ears back then, that you couldn't see them. I took her to the vet since she seemed lethargic to me. The vet said that she was dehydrated and gave her an injection for that, but he couldn't find anything else wrong with her. And I thought he did a good exam. He decided she probably had a viral infection, but prescribed some antibiotics to prevent any secondary infections. He just couldn't find anything wrong with her. She showed improvement right away, and the next day, I discovered her ears. Both ears were infected, but the bad ear had a ring of puss about teh size of a dime, so thick that it stuck out on the front and back of her ears. Even after I told me sister, she could not find the sores until I dug through the hair and found them for her. I later saw my older cat bite her in the ear after being harrassed by the bratty kitten. She's 11 years old now, and she has a permanent notch in her ear. I see it as a reminder of my Fiona, the older cat that must have been the cause of those infected bites. Anyway. when I see my cats behaving different, refusing food, or smelling weird, I start doing a full body exam. I will easily spend a half hour or more looking for anything that might be causing a problem. If I find nothing, and I'm not really sure that something is wrong, then I give my standard threat - 24 hours to return to normal, or you *will* go to the vet. They usually ship up really quick :) If I just *know* that something is wrong, I just go ahead and take them. What I don't understand is where Kira's ear fur went. After the first couple years, it thinned out, and now she barely has any fuzz on her ears. Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com friesian@zoocrewphoto.com (Meghan Noecker) dumped this in news:c239tn $it6$0@216.145.17.201 on 02 Mar 2004: > He decided she probably had a viral infection, but > prescribed some antibiotics to prevent any secondary infections. He > just couldn't find anything wrong with her. Sorry Meghan, I have to pick this part out of your post to ask a question of the group. Does anyone else's vet do this to "prevent" infection? I used to have a vet who would prescribe ABs often but since switching vets, she doesn't prescribe them unless the cat actually has a fever or there is more of an indication that there is a bacterial infection present. Actually, she's never prescribed an AB for Shamrock when the old vet did every time I brought him in for his skin problems. She's only prescribed a round for Bonnie when it was "suspected" UTI because she couldn't get a sample, but would have obtained a sample via needle if the AB didn't cure her problem after the 10 days. Luckily it did. I think since there is more awareness of over-AB usage, at least in humans they don't give them as often anymore and I wondered if most of your vets are this way too? >friesian@zoocrewphoto.com (Meghan Noecker) dumped this in news:c239tn >$it6$0@216.145.17.201 on 02 Mar 2004: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Sorry Meghan, I have to pick this part out of your post to ask a question >of the group. Does anyone else's vet do this to "prevent" infection? Perfectly understandable question. To be honest, I wondered myself. Maybe he had a vague feeling something was wrong but couldn't put his finger on it. I really don't know. That was almost 12 years ago, and that is the only time we have been given meds without a clear reason. But he was right in this case. So, maybe he had a gut feeling, and just went with it. Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com (snipped) So my question >is: Does anyone here know of a cat sickness where an unusual odor is a >symptom? It can absolutely be a sign of serious illness. I had a stray who smelled bad and I attributed it to bad diet. He seemed fine, was vet-checked, tested, vaccinated and a few months later he went into extreme respiratory distress and died before we could get him to the ER clinic. A necropsy showed that his lungs were filled with fluid/infection, and his intestines showed so much infection parts were already necrotic. I don't know what kind of testing we should have done. But again, the cat *acted* fine, ate well, normal litterbox issues. Not to scare you; I just wanted to share that info, because honestly, the only thing awry with this cat was a *slight* odor. Sherry > Hi all, > I have a friend who is worried that her "smelly cat" (although I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > is: Does anyone here know of a cat sickness where an unusual odor is a > symptom? If a cat is not bathed or wiped down with a damp cloth with There are lots of illnesses that might give a pet an odor depending on how sensitive your sense of smell is, but if it "smells like a dog", it could be that he has some dental problems, and is grooming himself with bad breath smell. Also, some people say that their cats start to stink or have bad breath when they get tapeworm, even before the segments are apparent. A healthy cat that grooms properly shouldn't need bathing to not stink. Elderly or obese cats often can't groom as well, and might start to stink. Signaturejamie (jamiemck@newsguy.com) "There's a seeker born every minute."
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