Why does my cat's urine smell strongly of garlic? Should I worry?

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes it may be normal for a kittens urine to have a stronger odor especially if the urine is very concentrated. You may want to try feeding an all canned diet with water mixed in to help reduce the urine concentration. However, sometimes a UTI can cause a change in urine odor. As long as Beasty is using the litter box normally and not having urinary accidents or going urinating small amounts frequently, I would be less concerned about a UTI. However, if changes in her urination habits occur (like straining to urinate, frequent urination, crying while urinating) or if she stops eating or drinking or becomes lethargic it would be a good idea to schedule a vet visit. Also, if the urine odor persists you may want to bring a sample to your veterinarian to have it evaluated. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Increased drinking in cats with a urine that has a strong odor is concerning for a couple possible medical issues, such as diabetes, a urinary tract infection, a kidney issue, or another underlying issue. I would recommend having Missy be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine if she has an underlying condition that needs to be addressed, have any diagnostic testing done (urinalysis, bloodwork, etc) and a treatment plan made if needed. Good luck!

Older cats have a tendency to have problems with their kidneys as they get older. This can result in their kidneys not concentrating their urine as well, so it is more dilute and has less (or no) odor to it. Kidney disease can cause a number of problems, so I would recommend having your veterinarian evaluate Lilly and check a urine sample and blood work. Having more dilute urine can also predispose older cats to urinary tract infections, that will will be important to check for as well. If you have one available in your area, you might consider having a house call vet come to the house if Lilly does not do well going to the vet. You may be able to find someone near you here. http://www.homevets.org/Find_A_Mobile_Vet.html Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

As you likely know, cats normally have very concentrated urine which has a very strong smell to it. If Tommy's urine does not have an odor to it, it might be because his urine is no longer as concentrated as normal. (Urine can actually look and smell like water if it is not concentrated.) I would strongly recommend having your veterinarian check Tommy's urine to make sure that it is normal. It might be a sign of something more going on internally, so your veterinarian may also recommend some bloodwork. I hope that helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Urine is mostly water and urea which is a waste product of protein breakdown. Urea can develop into ammonia NH3 > NH4 which is why your cat litter smells like ammonia. You should empty out the litter completely more frequently (less deep litter with frequent cleaning is preferable for your cat). If your cat is older you should consider taking her in for blood testing to check her kidney function. There is a new test called SDMA which can detect early kidney disease.

I would not say that the secretions from the anal sacs generally remind me of garlic but I would also argue everyone interprets things differently. Since Eden seems normal in every other way, try washing off his rectal area and the under side of his tail to remove any secretions present. If the smell remains, his anal sacs may need to be expressed and your veterinarian may be able to do this pending Eden’s temperamental. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach! Sometimes more concentrated urine can have a stronger odor. I would make sure he is drinking plenty of water and not dehydrating himself. If he has been drinking adequate amounts of water and if the smell continues, I would get him examined by his veterinarian and have his urine tested as he may be dealing with a urinary tract infection. If diagnosed with a UTI, he will need to go on a course of oral antibiotics for treatment. I hope this helps! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via text or phone consultation.