I don't think cats smell - do you?

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

Not a TAAT - (but triggered by another thread.)
I don't believe I'm nose blind. I have just deeply sniffed all four of the Grumpy cats 😹 and I don't believe they smell of anything.

Please note I'm not daft -

• Yes, cat pee and crap smells,
• Yes, a litter tray does smell just after a cat has just been in, (but then again, so do human toilets)
• And yes, if a cat is peeing where it shouldn't in the house then that is likely to smell really bad.

But whereas I can almost always tell if a dog lives in a house (due to doggy body odour permeating soft fabrics etc.), I can't smell cats in other people's houses.
So I maintain that a healthy cat, in itself, does not smell
Am I right?

You are correct!

Agreed. It’s the pee smell that people associate with cats, but as you say, that’s not an issue if your cat doesn’t pee where it shouldn’t.

dcat generally smells of family members perfume or aftershave from the amount of cuddles she gets.

Absolutely correct.When I sniff my cat he just smells sweet like fresh air outdoors.
I got in a friend's car the other day, and the smell of dog was overpowering, really unpleasant.

I’m sure they must do, not as strong as dogs, but I think we as cat owners just become immune to what they smell like possibly?

Oh i was just about to ask this! We have a kitten nearly 5 months old. He does smell! Will this go after being neutered? I just found he has sprayed and trying to get rid of that! Dh is starting to regret getting him now. He's due his last injections in a weeks time then can be booked in for neutering and microchip and can then start going outside. But I clean the litter tray 2 times a day. Have tried a few litters that clump and mask smell. It's very hit and miss. He's had diarrhea which seems to come and go. The vet says he is fine. He's lovely and gentle and let's the kids play with him. But he makes the house smell!

My cat smells delicious. I love sniffing her. She smells like warm cuddles lol

I'm highly allergic to cats and can smell immediately (symptoms start a couple of minutes in) when entering a place that regularly has cats in it. even if no litter tray inside. it's very distinctive.

Old cats car smell. Horrible. Like piss and some weird smell that I think is rank saliva as their breath smells and that would transfer onto their fur. Young cats no. I had a Pomeranian. He didn't smell at all. I have other dogs so I know what dogs smell like. The pom just smelled warm

My cat smells delicious. I love sniffing her. She smells like warm cuddles lol

Totally!

Pretty much everything has a smell. I don't think cats have an unpleasant smell but they do have a scent .
As do dogs.
And people. 😁

I smell my cats feet, they smell like popcorn 😂he's an indoor cat. I used to have a dog and he definitely smelt.

Old cats car smell. Horrible. Like piss and some weird smell that I think is rank saliva as their breath smells and that would transfer onto their fur.

That’s what made me love my old cat so much 😁

Some cats and some dogs smell. One of our cats had a horrible pong, the others cats always had a nice 'warm' scent.
Dd dog stinks if we feed her the wrong thing, (wheat seams to be the culprit, so we're careful to get the wheat free food, but occasionally it's been out of stock, so we've had to use the wheat version).
Bit like humans really, what you eat will have an impact on how you smell.

Cats themselves don't often smell (though I agree elderly cats can get a bit whiffy!) but their trays can reek. Also if food bowls are left down with uneaten food.
I've been to cat owners house which have had a definite catty pong.

My cat's feet smell like digestive biscuits !! 😻😹

Our cats don’t smell either. Our dog did.

Cat food smells revolting. I can smell ‘wet’ cat food of any kind (tin, pouch, posh little foil pot) in a bowl as soon as I enter a house.

A cat home still has a smell but it's not quite as offensive as a dog smell, imo.

I’m sure cats and their homes do smell to non-cat people.

I can tell a house with a dog as soon as I set foot inside (and just when the door is opened if it’s really bad).

@nameitagain Agreed - I've had old cats with kidney problems and they definitely smelt bad (breath and fur). Hence the 'healthy cat' comment in my OP.
@greenacrylicpaint - I know it's probably impossible for you to describe but what do cats smell like to you? Some dogs (and houses with dogs) have a really strong musty, stale smell to me.

My cat smells lovely, I adore it!

I think you can tell if there's a dog in the hose straight away by the smell, but not with a cat.

And I own neither (and don't want to!) so no bias or nose-blindness.

Cats don't usually smell as strongly as dogs but you can smell when one lives in the house.

There are three levels of smell:
1 a cat lives here but the smell is mild
2 a cat lives here, the smell is moderate but tolerable
3 a cat lives here, it stinks, let me out now

Yes! Kidneys. They do it