My boyfriend and I adopted a domestic shorthair kitten back in August.
I've noticed something about his behaviour, and I'm comparing it to the domestic shorthair I had when I was growing up.
Basically, ever since we got him, I've noticed he's using his litter box very frequently. His stools smell incredibly strong, much more than I'd consider normal, and he goes five or more times a day.
He’s already had his first visit to the vet and I brought it up. The vet told me it was normal and asked what he was eating—he's on vet-brand wet food and dry food. I’ve also given him worming treatment, but it hasn’t made a difference; it's still the same.
If you have any thoughts or advice to share, please do, as I’d really like to understand why this is happening.
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I’ve found an article that might shed some light on why your cat’s poo smells so strong: ‘My kitten smells like poo: Why it happens and how to fix it’. It suggests several reasons why this might be occurring, such as their diet or health issues, and offers some practical solutions to help. Hope it helps you get the problem sorted.
Hi, what brand of dry food do you give your cat? Thanks for your replies.
Some dry foods just don't suit every cat.
We had to switch because even though the dry food was recommended by our vet, the ingredients were causing a lot of fermentation in the gut of one of our cats. She was going to the litter tray constantly and, above all, was farting all day long!
We moved to a lesser-known brand recommended by researchers and approved by professionals: grain-free, with high-quality meat, prime cuts, offal, etc.
No more problems!
We also give her fresh wet food and soup! No added sugar! No veg or grains!
All the best!
Hi everyone, ever since I switched my cat’s dry food, I’ve noticed that his poo smells really bad. I was wondering if I should wait it out for a bit or if I should change his food again? (The brand is Hill’s). Thanks in advance!
Some types of dry food just don't suit certain cats.
We had to switch because, even though the dry food was recommended by our vet, the ingredients were causing a lot of fermentation in the gut of one of our cats. She was going to the toilet constantly and, more importantly, she was passing wind all day long!
We switched to a lesser-known brand recommended by researchers and approved by professionals: grain-free, with high-quality meat, prime cuts, offal, and so on.
Problem solved!
We also give her fresh wet food and soup! No added sugar! No veg or grains!
Yeah, I agree with the previous comments. He’s probably getting too much fibre, if I’m not mistaken, which is making him go to the loo more often—a bit like us!
And the smell depends on the ingredients too. You really need to try and understand a cat's nutritional needs so you can decipher the labels yourself. A lot of the dry food you get at the vet is too high in sugar and poorly balanced when it comes to minerals.
Royal Canin is everywhere, in every single vet's practice... why is that?
Hi there. Make sure you worm your kitten as well, and keep an eye out for any diarrhoea. I agree with the previous comments too—the dry food from the vet isn't necessarily the best. They have partnerships in place, so they’re bound to push their own products. Grain-free dry food is usually the best option, which you can mostly find online. Since cats are carnivores, they don't actually need grains in their diet.
Hi there.
It depends on how old your cat is.
I have a little kitten and he also goes to the toilet very often (3-4 times a day).
I went to the vet and they told me everything was perfectly fine. He’s putting on about 0.03 lbs a day 😂
It’s just his tummy finding its feet 😜😂
Mind you, my kitten is only two months old.
Hello,
Going five times a day is absolutely massive!
The food you're giving your cat is just passing straight through him and isn't actually nourishing him. That’s why he’s eating so much and pooing so much. If he’s over 3 months old, he should really only be going once a day.
You should definitely steer clear of those vet-recommended products; they’re basically just the same as supermarket brands and are pretty terrible for a cat’s diet. Your vet won’t tell you that, though, as selling those things is how they make their money.
Try switching to a grain-free dry food like Orijen, Carnilove or Purizon, and do the same for wet food – look for grain-free brands like Animonda Carny, Catz Finefood, and so on.
Don't just rush into buying anything; have a look around and come back to talk about what you've found so we can help you refine your choice. If your budget allows, you could even go for a wet-food-only diet, which is far healthier and easier to digest.
When you make the change, make sure to do a proper transition by gradually increasing the amount of the new dry food.
Best regards
