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The litter tray

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

Stinky cat with Kittens

60 replies

Frenchlady14 · 25/06/2021 12:17

Hello oh wise mumsnetters,

A stray cat came through my window three weeks ago and had her kittens in my kitchen. Difficult but not the end of the world (although resident cat was not impressed) I now have five cats more than I did and will have to start looking for some parents for the kittens - however, the problem is that the mother cat is very stinky. She is eating loads, which is only to be expected and I'm keeping the litter tray clean but Dear God when she goes in it, it nearly takes the hairs off the inside of my nose. I was even in the bath (a whole floor and corridor away) and I knew she'd just used the tray. I am giving her as good a diet as possible as she is feeding the little ones - poached chicken or turkey, some sachet food and some dried food for variety. Also, when she takes a break and comes to see me she brings the awful smell with her. Id like to be able to give her a cuddle but it's beyond possible. Is there something I can do? I can't take her to the vet just yet (I will when I can to get her sterilised and chipped) so any help would make life much sweeter in here?

OP posts:
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Toddlerteaplease · 25/06/2021 12:36

Get some really good cat litter. I have a very stinky cat who doesn't bury it, so I feel your pain! I use intersand classic of tigerino and as soon as it's buried the smell goes.

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 25/06/2021 12:42

Annoyingly, with kittens there you won't be able to use clumping litters which tend to be the best at reducing smells (I'm also a total Intersand convert but it clumps which is risky for kittens), but you can look at her diet to see if that helps.

Frenchlady14 · 25/06/2021 12:46

Its the mum cat that has the problem - I've got really good cat litter but it seems she is farty too. Is it a thing with cats that are feeding? Can someone recommend a food for cats with tummy problems. I don't want to take her to the vet as she would have to leave the kittens and probably would be very anxious

OP posts:
Poorlykitten · 25/06/2021 12:47

Diet is a massive thing….we now have cat on expensive hyper allergenic stuff and no stink. However, she may also have some tummy upset ( giardia) or something similar maybe? That won’t help. Excuse spelling!

Poorlykitten · 25/06/2021 12:49

Oh, I’ve use applaud biscuits and wainwright’s. Lots of cat food out now for sensitive tums but swap over slowly.

trevthecat · 25/06/2021 12:49

Photos please! Could you take her and the kittens to the vet together? Also pet shops tend to sell cat food for delicate tummies. Don't have a brand recommendation though, our boy eats everything, I caught him sharing a bag of crisps with my eldest yesterday!

RestingPandaFace · 25/06/2021 12:50

If she s stray the food you are feeding might be a bit too rich for her until her digestion etc. gets used to regular food and good nutrition.

Maybe try her on dry indoor cat food.

Poorlykitten · 25/06/2021 12:53

I wouldn’t suggest dry, it’s not good for cats on it’s own. Wet meat is also best for sensitive tums (ex rescue lady here!)

Elisandra · 25/06/2021 12:53

Talk to the vet, they may want to test a poo sample, and can advise you anyway. The kittens will need treating for parasites soon. Wonderful that you’re caring for them all 💙

dementedpixie · 25/06/2021 12:56

You would often feed the mum with kitten food for extra nutrition. What brand of food are you giving her? Is it grain free?

Stickytreacle · 25/06/2021 12:59

Royal canin sensible or digest would be my go to, thankyou for looking after them!

Toilenstripes · 25/06/2021 12:59

I would introduce a raw diet for at least a few of her weekly meals. I buy PurrForm and although it can be expensive it cleared my cats intestine problems. They can really suffer without the right diet.

XelaM · 25/06/2021 13:07

Be careful with dry food, as some has recently been linked to hundreds of cat deaths. I'm sure you would have heard, just wanted to make sure

Cleverpolly3 · 25/06/2021 13:18

@XelaM

Be careful with dry food, as some has recently been linked to hundreds of cat deaths. I'm sure you would have heard, just wanted to make sure
Yes it has It’s AVA Applaws Sainsbury’s hypoallergenic

@Frenchlady14 there is a Royal Canin Sry food called Mother and Baby Cat. You can also feed a nursing Queen high quality kitten food too.

I’d also suggest poached chicken with rice cooked in the water too.
A little bit of raw liver will perk her up too and as a stray she will be used to raw food with eating her prey.

Also what a lovely thing you are doing for them all. 💓

floppybit · 25/06/2021 16:18

Pics please!! Grin

Chemenger · 25/06/2021 16:30

Maybe worming would help? You need to talk to the vet about what is suitable for a nursing mother. I had to dose a foster cat and kittens with panache liquid, which was fun…a sample for testing for giardia also sounds like a good idea, that is meant to be unbelievably smelly.

Frenchlady14 · 26/06/2021 09:03

Here they are - I had to quickly find a box when she started having them and that is the quilt from my daughter's bed - she is all grown up so not here with me at the mo - bit of a makeshift job but they seem comfortable and are thriving. I'll try some food for cats with a sensitive stomach and rely mainly on poached chicken - they can eat a little bit of rice? - I didn't know that. I'll try poaching the two together. Poor little cat was barely much more than a big kitten herself - she's doing so well with the little ones.

Stinky cat with Kittens
OP posts:
Frenchlady14 · 26/06/2021 09:05

The grey one is the mum - she is so small herself - as they get bigger she is harder to spot with them.

OP posts:
InglouriousBasterd · 26/06/2021 09:10

They are beautiful!!

InglouriousBasterd · 26/06/2021 09:11

Including mum - she looks very young herself.

Is the poo just smelly or runny too?

AlfonsoTheMango · 26/06/2021 09:15

Ahhh. Bless. You are a good soul, OP.

ItsSnowJokes · 26/06/2021 09:16

Oh my, those kittens are beautiful. You are doing an amazing job. Why can't cats come and have kittens in my house?!?!?!?!

Elisandra · 26/06/2021 09:18

They’re beautiful! As she’s stray she is highly likely to have instestinal parasites that changing food won’t sort out. It really is important to start worming the kittens from 3 weeks ish as a high worm burden can affect them badly. I foster and am given Panacur for them. A local rescue may help you if you want to avoid vets fees at the moment.

Elisandra · 26/06/2021 09:21

I’ve found Kitten Lady helpful (although she is in America so brands etc often different)

www.kittenlady.org/giparasites

MrsCrosbyNRTB · 26/06/2021 09:21

No advice but they are all gorgeous @Frenchlady14. What a lovely person you are FlowersFlowers