The information in this article was reviewed and approved by registered veterinary nurse, Beth Walker
While your cat’s mess is never going to smell pleasant exactly, a healthy stool should only have a mild odour. It’s not normal for kitten poo to smell really bad! Foul-smelling faeces in kittens can be caused by a range of things, and it’s important to explore the possibilities with your vet. In this blog, we’ll explain what healthy stools should look and smell like in cats, and go through some of the most common culprits for foul-smelling faeces in kittens.
What Should Normal Kitten Poo Look Like?
You can actually tell a lot about the health of a cat from their poo! ‘Normal’ stools for kittens (and adult cats) should be formed, firm and compact, shaped like a sausage. They should not be overly hard, soft or runny in consistency. Any stool softer than toothpaste consistency is cause for concern.
A healthy kitten’s poo should be dark brown in colour. Any other colours, including black, green, grey, orange/yellow, or streaked with red are cause for concern and you should see a vet. The length and amount of poo per day will vary from cat to cat depending on their size. It’s normal for kittens to pass stools up to four times a day, but it can vary a lot.
Kittens who are straining to go to the toilet, or who haven’t been able to pass stools for more than two days may be constipated and should see a vet. Diarrhoea is also very dangerous in kittens as they can quickly become severely dehydrated. See a vet as soon as possible if your kitten has diarrhoea.
What Should Normal Kitten Poo Smell Like?
Healthy stools in kittens should only have a mild smell. Usually, it is barely noticeable to owners, so if you do notice that your kitten has particularly foul-smelling faeces, there could be something wrong.
It’s likely that a bad smell will be accompanied by other symptoms, such as a change in stool colour or consistency. A bad smell alone is less concerning but it’s important to watch out for other signs.
If your kitten’s stools have a metallic smell, this suggests there is digested blood in their poo. This means there is bleeding somewhere in the kitten’s gut and they would need veterinary attention.
If you’re worried that your kitten’s stool is not right, try to take a small sample of it for your vet. They can test it to determine the underlying cause of the problem. You can also take pictures to help your vet make a diagnosis.
What are the Most Common Causes of Foul-smelling Faeces in Kittens?
Foul-smelling faeces is often a sign that there is something wrong in the kitten’s stomach or intestines. This could be a result of a change of food, poor diet, digestive disorder, worms, or bacteria. We’ll explore these possible causes below.
Diet
If your kitten is otherwise bright and well, it may be that their diet is causing the problem.
Commonly, foul-smelling faeces in kittens can be a result of the introduction of new foods. If you’ve recently moved your kitten on to a different diet or offered them a new treat and shortly afterwards you noticed a change in their stools, the dietary change is a likely culprit.
If you haven’t introduced any new foods, and you don’t think your kitten has got their paws on something they shouldn’t, it could be that they are simply on the wrong diet. Your kitten should be fed a high quality, well-balanced food that is appropriate for their age and development. Speak to your vet if you are unsure of what is the best food for your kitten.
If you do change your kitten’s diet, do so gradually so as to avoid further digestive upset. You can do this by adding a small amount of the new food to the old food, and increasing the ratio of new to old slightly every day for 10 days.
Worms
Parasitic worms are another of the most likely causes of foul-smelling faeces in kittens. As well as smelly stools, intestinal worms can also cause excessive gas, diarrhoea, weight loss and inflammation in the gut. In severe cases, you might also see a swollen belly, known as abdominal distension.
However, there will not always be obvious symptoms of intestinal worms. It’s very common for kittens to pick up worms. Some types can be transmitted through their mum’s milk, or even through the uterus while they’re still in the womb. This is why it’s very important to regularly treat kittens and their mum for worms. Speak to your vet about worming treatment if you’re unsure.
Infection
Gastrointestinal infections are another potential cause of foul-smelling faeces in kittens. Your vet may suspect this as the cause if your kitten also appears generally unwell.
Adult cats tend to pick up bacterial infections from hunting. However, kittens can also be exposed to infections through other pets in the household, or by you bringing it in from the outdoors on shoes and clothing. Kittens are more prone to infections because their immune systems aren’t as developed. They don’t have all the antibodies that older cats have yet.
Digestive Issues
In some cases, foul-smelling faeces in kittens can be a result of a digestive problem, such as maldigestion or malabsorption. This is where a cat is unable to digest or absorb fats and starches. Both conditions can result in particularly bad-smelling stools.
Alternatively, your kitten could be struggling with a food intolerance or allergy. Your vet will help you narrow down the offending ingredient if this is the cause of their digestive issues. Specialist gastrointestinal diets may be able to help kittens with sensitive stomachs.
Wrapping Up
In many cases, foul-smelling faeces in kittens will only last a few days and then go back to normal. In these cases, there is little cause for concern. However, if the foul smell is accompanied by other symptoms, such as diarrhoea, vomiting, blood in the stools, or any other signs that your kitten feels unwell, it could be an emergency. Always see a vet in these circumstances. Even if your kitten’s smelly stools are not accompanied by other symptoms, it’s always best to speak to a vet if you’re concerned.