Let’s be honest: no one expects cat poop to smell like roses. But if your cat’s litter box has started clearing the room, you might be wondering, is this normal? Or a sign that something’s off?
The truth is, cat poop is naturally stinky, but certain factors can make it downright foul. In this article, I’ll explain what normal poop looks like, why some cats are extra-smelly, and what you can do about it.
Content:
What Should Cat Poop Look Like
Let’s start by what normal cat poop is like for cats. When looking in your litter box, you want to see feces that are:
- Brown in color
- Firm but not hard
- Moist but well-formed
- Mild in odor (as far as cat poop goes)
So, runny, extremely smelly, or oddly colored stools can mean a digestive issue. Hard stools can mean your cat is constipated. One way to avoid this is to make sure they are hydrated. Since cats prefer clean, running water, try the Petcube Fountain.
Why Does Cat Poop Smell So Bad
There are several culprits behind your cat’s horrific-smelling poops. Some are normal, others might need a vet visit.
1. High-Protein Diet Means Stronger Smell
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they thrive on high-protein diets from animal sources. Also known as meat. The downside is that protein digestion releases more smelly compounds like sulfur and ammonia. That’s one reason that carnivores, including cats, tend to have stinkier poop than herbivores.
Now, it’s worth noting that diet is often blamed for a cat’s smelly poop. And it’s true that a poor quality diet or some kind of intolerance or allergy might cause smelly feces. However, because it’s meat, a high-quality meat-based diet will still produce smelly poop. So, it’s not necessarily a sign of a bad diet.
2. Gut Bacteria & Fermentation
Your cat’s gut is full of bacteria that help break down food, but they also produce gases in the process. Common odor-causing compounds include:
- Skatole, a compound that smells like decay (it's what gives feces its classic smell)
- Hydrogen sulfide, which is responsible for that rotten egg smell
- Mercaptans, which are give off those rotten cabbage, garlic, or skunk-like odors.
These aren’t dangerous, just… aggressive.
Another factor is that not only do animal-protein diets result in more of these smelly compounds, but herbivores like cows tend to have very long, complicated digestive tracts that contain a lot of fiber and ferment food a lot longer. So, they really break down what they eat.
On the other hand, carnivores like cats have a relatively short digestive tract. Meat and fat are digested fast, with little fiber to bulk up the stool or slow things down. That leaves behind nitrogenous waste, sulfur compounds, and concentrated microbial byproducts that have a much stronger smell.
3. Individual & Sex-Based Scent Markers
Cat poop is meant to be smelly because it provides information.
According to Prof. Masao Miyazaki in this study, cats use poop as a form of chemical communication:
“Fecal compounds like MMB (3-mercapto-3-methyl-1-butanol) are male sex recognition pheromones that help cats identify individuals and territories.”
So poop smells communicate things like gender, and even the details about the individual cat. This is all information packaged to communicate to other cats that pass by.
4. Poor Diet or Cheap Ingredients
Many agree that a low-quality cat food loaded with fillers, starches, and mystery meat can cause bulkier, smellier poop, gut imbalance and inflammation and increased gas and fermentation.
So it’s worth looking at diet. If your cat’s food is mostly corn, soy, or unnamed “meat by-products,” consider switching to a more species-appropriate formula.
5. Health Problems
When the smell shifts from "gross" to nuclear, it might mean a number of underlying causes, including:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Pancreatitis
- Intestinal parasites (Giardia, roundworms)
- Sudden diet changes
- Infections (like feline parvovirus)
So, if you see other symptoms, such as diarrhea, lethargy, or appetite changes alongside foul stool, consult a vet. Remember, Petcube’s Emergency Fund covers up to $3,000 in emergency care, just in case.
6. Dehydration
If a cat is dehydrated, they will have concentrated poop that can smell worse. Cats can be tricky about drinking enough water, so try to stay on top of their hydration.
Stinky Cat Poop Remedies
Unless your cat has a health issue that can be treated, there is no single remedy for smelly poop. But there are some things you can do:
- Switch to a high-quality, meat-based diet
- Transition food slowly to avoid gut shock
- Make sure they stay hydrated with clean water and wet food
- Clean the litter box daily (and use a covered, odor-controlling litter if needed)
- Add probiotics (with vet approval) to balance gut bacteria
- Rule out parasites and illness with a vet check if things seem off
As one redditor writes:
“Unfortunately, some cats, especially kittens, are just very stinky. Mine have disgusting poops. Could be the litter, could be the diet, not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with it, just making her poops more stinky”, —r/CatAdvice
Conclusion
Unfortunately, your cat’s poop is supposed to smell, but if the odor is extreme or changes suddenly, it might be worth looking into. Most often, it’s a mix of natural protein breakdown, gut bacteria, and a little personal flair from your feline’s internal chemistry.
All you can do is clean the box, feed good food, keep them hydrated, and remember, even the stinkiest poops are just part of being a cat parent. But if you see any sudden changes or other symptoms, make sure you get to the vet.
Was this article helpful?
Help us make our articles even better
