Cats are among some of the cleanest animals of all domesticated pets. They are constantly cleaning themselves using their tongues, paws, and teeth; however, they still get dirty.
Your house could be smelling like cat poop because your cat’s litter box is full and you haven’t changed it. Also, it could be because your kitty is not clean and has poop on its fur. A stinking cat leaves the smell wherever it goes, so the smell will be a permanent feature until your cat is clean.
In this article, I will explore what makes your house smell of cat poop and how to get rid of the smell.
9 Reasons for the Cat Poop Smell in Your House
1. Your Cat’s Diet Has Changed
Felines, especially indoor cats, have different nutritional needs than humans. They require plenty of meat, fats, oils, vitamin A, and taurine, which is quite vital.
Due to the sensitivity of their stomachs, a sudden diet change may result in diarrhea, flatulence, a buildup of gases, and unpleasant smells.
If your cat is walking around passing gas or has episodes of diarrhea, your house will smell like cat poop until the problem is rectified.
A high-quality diet is essential for your cat’s well-being. Avoid cheaper alternatives that contain low-quality ingredients because these could cause gas and diarrhea.
Introduce changes in the cat diet slowly and watchfully to avoid stomach upsets.
2. The Litterbox Is Dirty
Litter box maintenance is as crucial as maintaining a well-balanced diet for your cat. If you neglect your litter box, your house will soon be filled with poop smell.
Cleaning up and refilling the litter box is key to keeping the repulsive smell out of your home.
Low-quality litter granules are inefficient in absorbing the odor and feces. If the feces smeared on the paws and fur, your cat will smell like poop.
It is safer to invest in high-quality litter granules, and if you can afford it, automatic self-cleaning litters are a better alternative.
3. Your Cat Is Dirty
Cats are known to be clean and constantly clean themselves. However, poop, especially the runny type, sometimes gets attached to the fur around the rear area.
That is usually common with the long-haired breeds like Maine Coon and the Persian If your cat emits poop odor, check the fur around its bottom for poop or pee remnants.
You may have to trim the fur around the area regularly to avoid the stench in the future.
Pay extra attention to cats that spend most of their time outdoors. They
could have rolled in something smelly or been infected with fleas and parasites.
Keep your cat indoors to prevent these problems.
4. Their Anal Glands Are Infected
Cats are predisposed to various infections on their anal glands, which are located close to their bottom underneath their skin.
In extreme cases, the glands may leak or develop an abscess. As soon as you notice this, take your cat to a vet for a thorough check-up.
Signs of anal infection or inflammation in your cat include:
- Scooting on the floor
- Difficulties in passing feces
- Constant licking and biting the area around the bottom
Reasons Why Your Cat’s Poop Smells Bad
Bacteria From Hunting Outdoors
Cats are carnivorous, and when their natural instincts set in, they prey on other small animals. They might eat something unsuitable or unhealthy.
Whatever they pick to hunt might be infected with salmonella, E.coli bacteria, or other parasites. This can result in digestive discomfort, diarrhea, and smelly feces.
Digestive Disorders
Poor digestion and absorption of starches and fats lead to digestive disorders and other related problems. These disorders mess up the gastrointestinal tract, creating pungent odors.
Medications and Hormonal Changes
Some hormone and pain medication can alter your cat’s natural chemical balance, resulting in foul-smelling poop.
Parasites
Parasitic infection, which includes Coccidian and Trichomonas, can cause stomach upsets to your cat, leading to severe diarrhea and stool that stinks.
Medical intervention, including antibiotics, can address the problem of parasites.
Prevention of parasites includes keeping your cat indoors and using parasite prevention from your veterinarian if they go outside.
Protein-Rich Foods
Cats, being carnivores, naturally feed on protein-rich foods and specifically animal protein. Too much protein content in a cat’s diet causes foul-smelling poop. A change in diet can help address the smelly poop.
Use the List Above to Diagnose the Problem
You have to go down the list above and eliminate each problem one by one to get to the root of the problem. This is best done with your veterinarian.
Chances are, your cat is not suffering from a leaking or infected anal gland. However, only your veterinarian can rule out this problem.
The poop odor could result from a smear on its fur or from the litter box.
If the litter box and fur are ruled out, check the diet. If there have been any changes, revert to the previous diet before the cat started producing the smell.
Give your cat a thorough bath. If your home still smells like poop after cleaning the litter and cat, seek professional advice.
How to Minimize or Get Rid of Cat Poop Odor
Cats poop should smell mild. But when the above circumstances occur, the smell can go off and be impossible to withstand.
As earlier stated, underlying medical conditions can cause foul-smelling cat poop. It is therefore imperative to ensure your cat is treated to eliminate the foul smell.
1. Clean the Litter Box and Keep It Germ-Free
Remove poop from your cat’s litter box daily and use baking soda on the floor of the litter box to get rid of bad odor and kill bacteria and germs.
Keep the litter box clean and fresh by changing it as regularly as possible. Thoroughly wash the litter box at least twice a month using dish soap and water or vinegar, especially if it is made of plastic which is prone to harboring bacteria and producing a foul smell.
It is recommended to have one litter box per cat plus one additional litterbox. Get the right size of litter box to avoid accidental spillover of feces.
Try different brands until you find one that works for you.
Daily scooping of the litter box goes a long way in minimizing poop odor.
But if this is impossible, consider getting an automatic litter box and empty it at least once a day.
2. Gradually Change Your Cat’s Diet
Eliminate sensitive foods from your cat’s diet and put your cat on a new diet and feeding program.
Consult a veterinarian to assist you in coming up with a suitable diet and feeding program for your cat. Bacteria present in your cat’s body can be reduced by using digestive supplements, hence improving your cat’s health.
Avoid cat food brands with multiple ingredients.
3. Groom Your Cat Regularly
Keep your cat clean and well-groomed. Eradicate any foul smells on your feline’s body with pet wipes and remove loose hairs by combing the coat.
Occasionally, a bath might be in order for an extremely dirty cat. However, it’s not typically necessary.
4. Clean Your House
Occasionally clean your house thoroughly. Vacuum and clean the draperies, rugs, carpets, chairs, couches, and any other areas frequented by your cat using a steam vacuum. This helps get rid of loose hairs and dander from a cat’s coat.
Air fresheners and purifiers, furnace filters, beds, and cat blankets help in keeping poop smell out of our houses. De-odorizing powder helps eradicate deep smells when used alongside vacuum cleaners to clean carpets and rugs.
Cleaning your house regularly helps get rid of the cat poop odor in your house. Dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and washing fabrics frequently is a great way of keeping your house smelling fresh and clean, free of poop odor.
5. Change the Air Filters
An air filtration system can help keep the air fresh. Replace the filter regularly and ensure the air ducts are cleaned periodically.
6. Clean Your Cat’s Stuff
All of your cat’s accessories need to be cleaned on a weekly basis. Bedding, toys, and dishes need to be cleaned to remove lingering odors and any poop that may have smeared on them.
It may not be a good idea to throw them in the washing machine or dishwasher because of parasites. But you can handwash them with clean, soapy water and let them air dry. If anything has a persistent cat poop odor, consider throwing it out.
7. Open Windows for Ventilation
Opening windows and doors once a week, even during colder months, has a huge impact on the quality of your home’s air. Short periods of even 10 minutes can make a huge difference in the freshness of your home.
If you have put the litter box in the basement, open the basement door or window to air out the room.
8. Choose Your Furniture Wisely
Cat odor can linger on furniture, making it smell of poop.
Choose your furniture wisely. Leather and metal are more cat-friendly and are easier to wash than fabric and wood.
9. Mask the Scent
Dryer sheets, carpet freshness, plug-in air fresheners, scented candles, and sprays are a brilliant way of neutralizing and masking scents. This may be a short-term solution when the smell gets bad in common areas.
But ultimately, you may have to completely change some of your rugs or furniture to get rid of the smell entirely.
It’s All About Health and Cleanliness
The reason why your house smells like cat poop all boils down to cleanliness. By observing high standards of cleanliness, cat poop odor will give way to fresh air, making our homes habitable once again.
Smelly poop is a sign of an underlying issue in the stomach or intestines of your cat caused by digestive disorders, parasites, bacteria, or poor diet.
The bad smell alone is not a cause of alarm, but when accompanied by other symptoms such as color change and consistency, it’s time to consult a veterinarian.
A cat’s poop gives us a glimpse of its well-being, and the owner should always take a keen interest.
Writer: Mercy Nandika Amatieku
