Hi everyone, I have a 2-month-old male British Shorthair and I’m having a real problem with him. He smells really strongly of poo whenever he gets out of his litter tray. It’s unbearable – every single time he’s finished, it smells awful and I’m forced to wash him, but the smell still lingers. I’m at my wits' end. To make matters worse, he climbs onto the armchair and then the armchair smells of poo too, so I’m constantly having to wash the blankets. I don’t know what to do other than bathing him. Does anyone have any advice or has anyone dealt with this before? Can you please help? He's a lovely kitten, but he smells terrible. Thanks in advance for your replies.
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Hi, I’ve just seen your post. You’ve got quite a large cat, and him getting his paws and tail in his poo is really not pleasant! There are two logical things to try: get a larger litter tray and put more litter in it. You’ll probably see a difference then.
Hi everyone, I’ve had some trouble with my computer, which has been in for repair for two months (thanks to a big electronics shop...) but I’m just checking in to say that Shadow is doing much better, even if he still smells a bit like poo every now and then. I had a chat with my vet and it turns out the issue is down to his breed; British Shorthairs have really sensitive stomachs, which is why he needs a very, very high-quality diet haha. I’m doing my best, but things are alright. Also, sometimes I get the feeling Shadow wasn't weaned properly because he spends ages in his litter tray. You can't see inside the tray so I’m not 100% sure, but we’re just making do.
Hi there! Most dry food sold in supermarkets, at the vet, or in pet shops is packed with cereals and by-products—basically waste—and doesn't have enough meat for a cat, which is an obligate carnivore. In the short or long term, this can lead to urinary issues, kidney problems, diabetes, and obesity, not to mention all those visits to the vet. I’d definitely recommend going for grain-free, meat-based dry food instead. A few good brands you can find on Zooplus are Nutrivet, Orijen, Purizon, and Porta 21 Feline Finest. Since these are meat-based, your cat will eat much less to feel full, so you’ll actually save money on your budget. I think that’s about everything lol 👋. I also agree with the previous posts that your cat’s diarrhoea should stop and it won't smell nearly as bad. Just make sure you do a proper transition over 3 to 4 weeks, mixing it with the current dry food until the stools are firm and well-formed.
Yeah, it could be the dry food. If his poo is a bit soft and he's treading in it while he's scratching around, that might be the problem. You could try putting a small tray in front of his litter box with a damp cloth inside to clean his paws when he hops out, just in case he's stepped in anything.
Maybe give a sandy-type clumping litter a go as well, that might make a difference.
His poo is a bit soft, and I’m using Catsan Hygiene Plus non-clumping litter. What should I do if he seems to be in pain after using the tray? Honestly, thanks ever so much for all the advice, you're being a real help. And no, I’ve actually kept him on the same dry food—Royal Canin—but I’d like to switch him to a popular pet shop brand I’ve seen good reviews for, as a lot of people seem happy with it. I’m going to try and switch his food (doing a proper transition, of course). And yes, he does bury his business, but he takes ages to get out of the tray. I’ve even changed the tray because someone said he might be scared; the old one didn’t have a hood, but even with the new one, nothing’s changed.
Royal Canin dry food isn't actually that good, which could be the cause of the diarrhoea and those bad smells... You should think about switching brands (Orijen, for example) or even moving to raw feeding! If the smells persist, make sure to see a vet...
I’m having a real nightmare trying to find the links again.
I’d suggest heading over to Healthy Pets' profile, as they’ve also made some videos on this, as well as Sevv, who has started a blog to raise awareness.
