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My cat smells bad and has oily fur. Is it because he's overweight?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 7 years and 6 months old | 18 lbs

Hello there, My cat, Boo (a black tabby, 18 pounds, fixed & borderline liver disease) has been smelly lately. I'm guessing it's his weight, and I would like to put him on a diet. He's always been big, as he was under my mom's care. I have his sister with me too, who could also use a diet. I do bathe him every two weeks and it doesn't do as much as I was hoping. His fur is quite oily and full of dandruff and he smells weird. The litter box is cleaned three times a day.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on February 6th, 2019

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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