While stools do not typically have an enjoyable odor, sometimes stools or feces can smell extremely strong and putrid. The cause for nasty smelling stools in cats or humans can be really comparable. It can be the food consumed, the bacteria in the colon1, and on celebration serious health problems. Furthermore diarrhea and the presence of excess gas can cause bad odors.
Why do My Cat’s Stools Smell so Bad?
Many feline conditions are accompanied by diarrhea and nasty smelling stools. In most cases, thankfully, the condition will be temporary, either self-resolving or readily remedied with a modification of diet2. “In some circumstances, however,” inning accordance with Tom Ewing, of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, “diarrhea can be a symptom of a deeply rooted, perhaps life-threatening condition.”
What causes smelly stool in felines?
In kitties, nasty fecal smells are typically associated with the intro of new foods or with swelling from parasites. For the most parts, any fecal problem in an adult feline — if not plainly attributable to a dietary issue — is likely to be straight associated with the gastrointestinal tract and will frequently be the outcome of an inflammatory or contagious disease and even cancer2. Your veterinarian will help you find the cause so proper treatment can be carried out.
- Diet as a cause of smelly stool in felines: Since individuals often vary their cats’ diet, it is often hard to determine what food active ingredient is the angering agent. Often an elimination diet (preventing one component at a time for a week or so), might assist you narrow down the cause. Some cats are hunters and their prey can likewise cause smelly stools. Envision your cat eating bugs, rodents and small reptiles and the odor may not be such a mystery — delicious! Surprisingly, vitamin supplements can likewise produce smelly stools. There are very few needs to use vitamin and mineral supplements in felines and today’s cat foods are well stabilized so pet parents are more likely to cause problems by supplementing feline food. [Editor’s Note: Never add any sort of vitamin supplement to your cat’s food without talking with your veterinarian.]
- Bacteria as a reason for smelly stool in felines: Infectious enteritis might permit bacteria like E.coli or Samlonella to establish housekeeping. These organisms, along with some infections, can cause swelling and result in diarrhea and gas that can be very nasty smelling
- Parasites as a cause of smelly stool in felines: Some intestinal parasites of felines cause diarrhea and gas. In particular, Giardia can produce chronic, foul smelling feces with or without diarrhea. Coccidia and Trichomonas are also parasites that can cause intestinal tract inflammation, diarrhea and smell.
- Digestive conditions as a reason for smelly stool in felines: Conditions like mal-digestion and mal-absorption typically result in rancid smelling stools This can be associated with undigested and unabsorbed fats and starches.
Diagnosing the cause of smelly stools
Diagnostics will probably start with blood tests and a fecal test to look for parasites. Depending on the feline’s age, the period of the issue and other medical signs, more tests may be necessary to assess digestion, the possibility of retrovirus infections — such as FIV and FeLV — and the possibility of hormonal abnormalities like excess thyroid production.
In most cases smelly stools of a few days duration in an otherwise healthy cat are not major, but if diarrhea and nasty odors persist or are accompanied by apathy, blood in stools, vomiting or diarrhea, it might be an emergency. Consult your veterinarian at once. Do not attempt to treat without a veterinarian’s supervision.
Also read: Why Does My Cat Fart All the Time?
