My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

My 16yo cat is not smelling too great these days

13 replies

Underhiseye2 · 23/02/2020 20:49

We have had our darling cat from a kitten (rescue) and he has had 16 years so far of pure luxury! He is free to go out via catflap but chooses to spend more time indoors nowadays. He used to be quite the hunter but now the mice and few and far between.

The last week or so he has not been smelling too good. Often passing wind, at times when he is presumably relaxed because I'm stroking him. But generally he just has a bit of a smell about him. He has always been a clean boy, aren't they all, but possibly isnt cleaning himself as often. I will try and monitor this.

He isnt the lightest boy but not a fat cat either. He eats 1-2 pouches a day of wet food. And good quality biscuits to make up for this from my morals point of view.

Is it common for older cats to smell? Any ideas what it could be if not just old age? He does seem to have aged quite a bit recently and so I am worried something may be up.

OP posts:
Report
sassafras123 · 23/02/2020 21:06

May be get his teeth checked? Does he drink enough? And he may need some extra grooming.Get a vet check in case of underlying problems.

Report
slipperywhensparticus · 23/02/2020 21:11

If he is farting he might need his gut flora resetting is it still ok to give cats yakult

Report
wonderrotunda · 23/02/2020 21:13

My boy has a bad back and can’t wash his bum...could it be something like that? He has medicine which affects his poo a bit too and seems to make his anal glands get blocked sometimes so that smells a bit. That doesn’t smell of wind just a kind of musty odour

Report
viccat · 24/02/2020 15:59

If he's never had a senior blood and urine test done, that would be highly recommended to check up on his general health.

Report
justcly · 24/02/2020 21:35

Similar problem here. He's 21, very fit and healthy ( he has six monthly check-ups) and very affectionate. But he has just stopped grooming. It's as if he has said, right, enough of that shit. He washes his paws and his nethers, that's it. Thing is, he is starting to smell very musky. I suggested a bath but everyone left the room. Any suggestions?

My 16yo cat is not smelling too great these days
Report
wonderrotunda · 24/02/2020 22:50

I’m not sure how he’s feel about smelling like flowers but you can get kitty wipes to stroke over them? @ justcly

Report
MollysMummy2010 · 24/02/2020 23:00

My cat started to smell and it was mouth cancer. She stopped eating eventually though so hopefully not the same. Probably teeth?

Report
MollysMummy2010 · 24/02/2020 23:05

@justcly gorgeous cat! Here is mine.

Report
MollysMummy2010 · 24/02/2020 23:11

And photo

My 16yo cat is not smelling too great these days
Report
justcly · 25/02/2020 02:09

@MollysMummy2010

It definitely isn't teeth. He has regular dentals, and that rotten teeth smell is very distinctive.

Report
Plump82 · 25/02/2020 15:38

You can get a foam shampoo that doesn't require washing off. I used it on my old cat as she had a whole host of issues. Id make sure the house was nice and warm as it is wet but it dries quickly. You can get it in Pets at Home.

Report
Toddlerteaplease · 25/02/2020 18:43

You can get dry shampoo for cats. Cheddar smelt of strawberry lemonade, when I gave her a dry shampoo after adopting her.

Report
Toddlerteaplease · 25/02/2020 18:43

Cross post!

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.