Cat smells horrible

[2blessed2bstressed]

As soon as I opened the door to the utility room I could smell something awful, I thought our cat had pooed, or dragged something rotten through her cat flap...but the smell is coming from her. Not her bum, as it is clean, and she doesn't appear dirty anywhere, but OMG, she stinks!
I smelled her head, and recoiled, it's that bad. What on earth could it be, and how do I fix it?

[Mabelface]

Sounds like she may have an infected bite on her. Our cat Brian had the same, and is still affectionately known as Smelly Head. He needed a vet trip for antibiotics.

[2blessed2bstressed]

I can't see anything amiss on her - no sign of any bites or abrasions at all Am gagging whilst looking though as she smells so foul. She's a Maine Coon, 5 years old, and grooms herself well, although we have had to remove the occasional small matted bit of fur. I'm at a loss, and not sure whether I should be taking her to the vet, or giving her a bath first to see if that shifts it. Do you get skunks in the north of Scotland?!

[Mabelface]

A bath wouldn't do any harm - to her anyway!

[TurquoiseGoldandOrangecat]

Could it be that she's 'played' with something dead? My dog found a dead baby bird once, and had to have an emergency bath as he stank like a,well like a I don't know what, but really really bad. A bath fixed it.

[cozietoesie]

If she's that bad, I'd vet her. (Warn them on the phone though so that they can let you in the back door if necessary.) If your immediate thought was poo, then I'm wondering if she could have anal gland trouble - but then that wouldn't make her head smell unless she was trying to clean it and had her head down there, I suppose.

Anyway - you can't live with her as she is, so I'd get an appointment quickish.

Lots of luck.

[2blessed2bstressed]

Madlizzy - I've bathed cats before, not her though...she's very vocal and I imagine she'd yell all the way through it, but I could manage if it's absolutely necessary - which I think it's going to be.
"playing" with something is maybe it.....although whatever it might be has clearly been belched back from the gates of hell. Whole utility room absolutely stinking

[2blessed2bstressed]

Have searched garden to see if I can find likely culprit. Nothing. cozietoesie her bum area looks normal, and the smell seems to be coming from all of her, iykwim, and not just one bit. Should I maybe try giving her a bath, and then vet if smell persists perhaps?
She hates going in the cat carrier nearly as much as she hates the car, so I think perhaps a bath in the first instance might be the lesser of two evils for her. Wish me luck!

[cozietoesie]

Oh you might need it!

I'd rather walk over hot coals than give a cat a bath.

[2blessed2bstressed]

Oh my goodness! Donned the rubber gloves and lifted smelly cat......then noticed horrible sticky lump of fur - feck knows how I missed it before so took her straight to vet. She's been fighting they think, and has been bitten. The bite is an abscess now, but with an antibiotic jab and a painkiller, she should be right as rain in a few days. Poor old smelly cat.

[cozietoesie]

At least you found the problem, though. Well done - and hope she's better in a few days.

[GotMyGoat]

Poor smelly cat. Glad you took her to the vets - she probably hated the smell too!

[cozietoesie]

PS - and it might not have been you overlooking an injury, either. Wounds can change in size over a number of hours - say if her abscess had just burst in the utility room earlier and then started to swell up again until it became obvious to you. (Sharp claws and thick fur etc means wounds are often difficult to see unless and until an abscess actually appears.)

[2blessed2bstressed]

Thanks ladies, I was feeling super guilty for not noticing when I checked her this morning. madlizzie how long did it take Brian to get better?

[Mabelface]

Only a.couple of days. X

[2blessed2bstressed]

Oh that's good to know, just been into utility room to check her before bed, and the smell seems to have pretty much gone already.....hurrah!

[out2lunch]

was it an abcess - they look awful but heal up really quickly

[Mabelface]

Did the vet pull the scab off? That took away a good part of the smell from my lovely Smelly Head Brian.

[2blessed2bstressed]

Yes, and she shaved away the clump of fur matted with gunk.....smellycat doesn't smell at all today, although she is deeply miffed at not being allowed out and is expressing her displeasure at full volume - and at some length. Back to vet tomorrow afternoon to be checked, am hoping she can get back out after that....neither of us is that impressed by the return of the litter tray!

[cozietoesie]

Glad she's better.

She just might also be wanting out to check over her territory ? (If she had a set to on the night before last.) I'd be tempted to keep her in for another night, I think - or to escort her out for the first sortie.

[2blessed2bstressed]

Well she's definitely in tonight again, and I'll see what vet thinks tomorrow. Am just glad she's getting better.......and doesn't smell!