Why does my cat have a strange or bad smell when he rubs on me?

That is unusual. The odor could be coming from his mouth, his skin or his rectum. Bad odors from the mouth can indicate dental disease, ketosis or kidney disease. Odors from the rectum (worse than normal), could indicate a gassy tummy, diarrhea or dietary intolerance. Smelly skin generally indicates an infection or over active oil glands. With the borderline liver disease, his diet options may be somewhat limited. It depends on how severe it is, if he’s had abnormal bile acids...etc. I recommend to have Boo see his veterinarian for an exam. The doctor will try to figure out where the smell is coming from and treatment will depend on the source. I recommend to ask about food recommendations as the doctor may want a special diet due to the liver. The skin quality may improve by giving Boo an omega 3 fatty acid supplement. Certain food are also better for skin such as Royal Canin or Nutro (once again though, ask your vet about diet recommendations). Lastly, you can use a dry shampoo for cats in between bathing. This will help to deodorize the skin and keep it clean. Brushing out the coat after applying the dry shampoo can help. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Cats and dogs have scent glands on either side of the anus called anal glands. The material in the glands is very stinky and often described as smelling fishy. Most wild animals can empty these glands voluntarily for scent marking or in self-defense (like a skunk might do), but dogs and cats have largely lost their ability to empty these sacs voluntarily. They normally release these glands during defecation, but can also release with excitement or stress. So, if Ariel struggled or got excited when you moved her, she likely expressed her anal glands. It is not anything to be concerned about, but can certainly be stinky, so you may need to clean the area of the couch that she was licking to get rid fo the smell. I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Bad breath could be a sign of a bad tooth. Smelling like fish could be Iayl licking his anal glands (sacs inside the rectum). If these glands get full or infected, cats will lick the area. I recommend taking Iayl to the vet for an exam of his mouth and anal glands. He may need to have a dental cleaning or have the glands expressed. Good luck!

That is odd. Check her ears and see if that is where the odor is coming from. Infections in the ears can often smell somewhat sweet. Otherwise check her skin for any signs of irritation or hair loss. Is it possible that she may have rubbed against some sort of oil diffuser fr other scented object? I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Cats have two small scent glands on either side of their rectum called anal glands - if these glands have been leaking a little or if she has expressed them recently, you may notice a very strong odor from her rear end. You can try cleaning the area around her rectum with some warm water and soap to help get rid of the smell. If this is a recurring problem, I recommend having her seen by a vet to check for infection or impaction of the glands.

Hello. It was just a coincidence that the tapeworms were discovered at the same time the fishy odor appeared. Yes, anal gland secretions can have a fishy odor, & if this is the case, you do want to have your veterinarian check the glands for impaction or infection. But the tapeworms have nothing to do with the anal glands. Loki is a real cutie. Thanks for the picture.

Poop smell is dependent on the type of intestinal bacteria your kitty harbors. these are good bacteria, but some just smell awful. The same is true for bacteria in his anal glands. He may not be covering his poop enough, because he himself ma be disgusted with it, so only does a half-hearted job. If he is otherwise healthy then there is nothing to worry about. A bottle of Febreze may be your only weapon against the smell. Sometimes changing food, especially changing to wet (canned) food, pate-style, may change the intestinal flora and the smell changes too.