Foster cat ungodly stench

[Buffypaws]

I’ve got a foster cat, senior street cat. He’s been neutered and had teeth out four days ago and he stinks! It’s unbearable. It’s stinking out my bathroom. If I let him out into the hallway for 60 seconds it reeks out there. I went out yesterday and came home and when I opened my front door the smell hit me. Can anyone relate? Is this normal for a stray? I am waiting for the tom cat smell to go but I’m worried there’s something else wrong as surely no one could have intact male cats if they smell like this?! It’s killing me if anyone can reassure me they have been through similar and come out the other side please let me know 🙏

Could he have an infection from the surgeries?

Please pop him back to the vets.

Is it urine smell? That can take weeks to settle after neutering and if he is an older cat, he may never stop spraying so the smell may linger permanently, even if less pungent.

Did they check his kidney function? Uraemic breath is pretty grim.

And was he bathed while under GA? Years of grime from street living isn't going to be eliminated easily.

its a deep set urine smell. It’s extremely male, reminds me of when my dad’s friend used to stay over when they were wasted. I dunno if the vet checked his kidneys. I haven’t been given much detail so I can check that.

I don’t think they bathed him. I’ve given him some wipe downs, but he isn’t visibly dirty.

I doubt it’s an infection because the vet handed him over and he smelt like this and they said nothing about it. I assumed it was what strays smell like and have been hoping it would get better.

Ok, so it probably is 'just' tom cat smell and will take several weeks to improve.

I fostered a dirty stinky boy. He was too poorly to clean himself properly initially. Once he was feeling a bit better, I put likilicks on his paws to entourage grooming!

And it got better?? How long did it take? I think he is grooming but not loads. He’s still very nervous .