Smelly cat

nimbo

We have just adopted a previously stray cat with FIV. He will be a house cat.

He's kind of long haired and been staying at a vets for the last few weeks.

He has been a bit on the stressed side but is obviously settling here well. He's eating using the poop tray and Washing etc.

BUT he kind of pongs. He's obviously got a few tender bits as he's bitten me and my partner when we've fussed the wrong bits - near his tail and one on his neck. Hes got at least one broken claw. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to reduce the smell without pushing his stress levels through the roof.

We may consider bathing him in a few weeks - but we'd need to give him a good brush first to avoid matting - but right now I dont want to put him through any more than he has to go through. He's going to go mad enough when we take him to the local vets for his next vaccines. he REALLY does not like the vets.

In the meantime is there anything we can do to reduce the smell - and avoid stinky carpets etc?

WeAreGhosts

I really recommend the Furminator for combing. It takes loads off in a few swipes.

As for the pong, how about something like this http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/dry-foam-shampoo-for-cats-and-dogs-119ml
No water involved.

colesy

You might think about getting a specialist groomer to have a go. The lady I use to groom my bad tempered long hairs is very good. If you're based in the north west, I can pass on her details if you're interested.

ljonski

Well done for taking him in.

HB58

We switched our cat to raw food. One of the reasons was because I had been told it would help make the little one's poo less smelly. It has helped a lot.

nimbo

I'm less concerned about his poos - more him. His smell less vile than my partners. although at least my partner flushes. Haha

Also my sister in law the family vetinary nurse is dead against a raw diet for pets.

He was a stray though and he's been taking care of himself since he arrived on Friday - he just still pongs. but as he's just settled in and he's still a bit stressed - I dont want to stress him more by abusing him with a bath. I think it's going to have to Happen though I'm just putting it off as long as I can.

GwylimT

Coat.

Kitty needs to get used to daily brushing, start very slowly and reward with treats, stop as soon as he becomes annoyed. Without daily brushing he will get matted fur which is very painful.

I would hold off on the bathing for as long as possible, unless he is a persian he will not be used to bathing and could become very stressed. If you do bathe him make sure you use a cat safe shampoo.

Smelly poo
Smelly poo is the sign of a poor diet, a cats poo should be small firm dark and scentless nuggets. Of course any change to diet needs to be done slowly to avoid any tummy upset. The general rule with cats is smelly poo equals food doesn't suit, scentless poo equals food does suit.

Rather odd that someone would disagree with an animal eating a diet its designed to eat. Does she think our cats cook the mice and birds they catch before eating them?!

nimbo

I think she objects to the type of food and how that food is processed leaving animals open to food poisoning from human foods rather than the raw bit.

Her three cats all kill mice - but only two eat them. she has no issue with that. Unless they're not quite dead when they bring them home to show her.

meritaten

my previous cat nicky was FIV and he was very ill when I got him. He also had a very distinct 'pong' about him - no amount of grooming or dry shampoo ever got rid of it. Or even minimised it.
What did help was using incense sticks - then we discovered he adored the 'frankinsense' one............he would sit with his head in the smoke and his eyes closed and just 'breathe it in'! lol I used to light one for him every day - and it did make him a bit pleasanter to cuddle.
I never bathed him as he was always 'scabby'. He was a lovely gentle cat and I miss him even now.

pinkteapot

GwylimT wrote: »

Smelly poo is the sign of a poor diet, a cats poo should be small firm dark and scentless nuggets.

Not entirely accurate. From WebMD:

Normal cat poop should not smell too foul (some odor is normal, of course).

Fresh poop will always smell a bit. Cats have anal glands that release a fluid that coats the poop, and it smells. It's a natural scent-marking behaviour - every cat has a slightly different smell.

If the poop comes out absolutely scent-free then the poop may not be solid enough to rub fluid out of the glands, which could be bad in the long run as the glands can get clogged if they're not emptied naturally regularly.

That being said, poop shouldn't smell absolutely horrific and even if the box is left unscooped, the smell should have faded so you don't notice it after a couple of hours. Really foul-smelling poop can indeed be a sign of a diet that doesn't suit kitty.

gunsandbanjos

I got a rescue cat just before Christmas and she was very smelly! It was just her coat though from being in the rescue centre, within a week or two she stopped being whiffy.