Why Does My Cat’s Pee Smell So Bad? Cat-Urine Odor Explained

Let’s just start by acknowledging that cat pee doesn’t smell good. Even healthy, normal cat urine has an odor. However, not smelling good and smelling bad (or overly strong) can be two very different things. 

If your cat’s pee is smelling stronger than usual, it’s never something to ignore. Let’s look into why cat pee can take on a stronger odor and how you can help fix that issue.

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Main takeaways

• Cat urine naturally has a stronger ammonia odor than dog or human urine because it is more concentrated.

• That bad smell can become stronger with some health conditions, so see a veterinarian if your cat’s urine odor is increasing.

• You can decrease urine odors by making sure your cat is healthy and by properly cleaning the litter box and any space where an accident has occurred.

Why does cat pee smell so strongly?

You may not have noticed, but cat pee doesn’t actually smell that bad when it first comes out of a kitty. It takes a little bit of time to develop that strong ammonia smell we’re so familiar with. Cat urine is filled with things like urea and the amino acid felinine. Urea is broken down into ammonia, and felinine is broken down into a compound you won’t recognize (3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol). But just know that it has a strong sulfur odor, as a precursor to pheromones. Both of these contribute to the pungency of cat pee.

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Is strong-smelling cat pee normal?

Cat urine definitely won’t win any awards in the freshness department. It just naturally smells stronger than the urine of other animals. Besides containing compounds that become more odiferous with time, cat urine is also more naturally concentrated than other animal urine. This means it has more waste products and less water, resulting in a stronger smell.

Is a sudden change in the smell of your cat’s pee a cause for concern?

Cat pee smells bad — we know that now. But what if that bad gets worse? Any changes in the odor, appearance, or even frequency of your cat’s urine is a reason to see a vet. You see, cat pee will always smell, but that smell should stay relatively consistent if everything is functioning as it should. A sudden change in the strength of the smell, or the smell itself, could mean your cat’s body is going through something that likely needs to be looked at.

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If you do nothing else, teach your cat to poop in their litter box (not your shoe).

7 reasons why your cat’s pee smells worse

Changes in the smell of your cat’s pee are nothing to brush off. Most often, a stronger-than-normal scent indicates a health condition that you’ll want to discuss with your vet.

High protein diet

Cats are the obligate carnivores of the pet world. They need a lot of protein to thrive. That protein is great for providing energy and maintaining muscle, but it also produces a lot of waste urea that eventually gets broken down into ammonia, contributing to strong-smelling pee. The higher the protein in a diet, the stronger your cat’s urine may smell. This may cause smellier poops, too.

Dehydration

A cat’s urine is already highly concentrated, meaning there are lots of waste products in there that can create a smell. Dehydration further concentrates the urine — and therefore, its smell — because there is less water in the body that needs to be expelled. Dehydration can quickly become serious for a cat’s small body, so see your veterinarian.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Bacterial urinary tract infections are fairly uncommon in cats. But when they do occur, they can cause stinky pee. Some would describe it as a “fishy” smell, while others say it just smells stronger. Either way, the urine may also have a cloudy or bloody appearance, and your kitty may need to go frequently. Veterinarians can treat UTIs with antibiotics and sometimes a diet change.

Kidney disease

The kidneys play a key role in how your cat’s urine smells. In cats with kidney disease, these vital organs decrease in their efficiency, which can lead to a stronger pee smell. These kitties may also drink a lot of water and pee frequently. Feline kidney disease doesn’t have a cure but can sometimes be managed with the help of your veterinarian.

Diabetes

Diabetes stems from an issue with the hormone insulin, which moves glucose from the bloodstream into the cells. When there’s not enough insulin, blood glucose can get very high, overflowing into the urine. Not only does this create more overall pee, it can also make it smell sweet and look sticky. Feline diabetes can be treated with help from your vet.

Stress and anxiety

Stress is a crazy thing that can affect all parts of the body, even making a cat’s pee smell worse by causing inflammation or changing the urinary tract’s pH. Stress and anxiety can also make a cat pee outside the litter box, potentially leading to some smelly messes.

Marking

We all know that male dogs often lift their leg to pee, but cats have an even wilder tactic: They can spray urine out behind them. Why? To let other cats know this spot is theirs or to attract a mate. Marking is less common in neutered males or spayed females but isn’t off the table completely. This urine can smell bad because we often don’t find it until the smelly degradation process is well underway.

When to see a vet for bad-smelling cat pee

As you get to know your cat, you’ll also get to know the smell and frequency of their pee. Sorry, but it’s true, and that’s actually a good thing. Knowing what’s normal can help you more quickly catch the abnormal. Any sudden changes in your cat’s pee smell, color, or frequency mean they should see a vet.

Treatment for smelly cat pee

With an exam, urinalysis, and potentially other tests, your vet will be able to tell if your cat’s smelly pee is coming from an infection, diet, or something else entirely. They will then be able to provide antibiotics for infections, medications, and diet changes for diabetes and kidney disease, or recommend lifestyle changes that can help with stress or marking.

Can you make stinky cat pee smell better?

Unfortunately, the smell of cat pee is what it is. There’s nothing you can do to change it other than to make sure your kitty is healthy by providing them with a high-quality diet, fresh water, exercise, and regular veterinary care. This can help prevent some of the health issues that may lead to smellier pee.

Otherwise, do your best to keep your cat’s litter box clean, especially if you have multiple cats who have to share a litter box. (Ideally, you would have one litter box per cat, plus one extra, for their comfort.) Consider an automatic litter box if you just can’t seem to scoop enough.

Also, try to keep your cat’s environment calm, consistent, and predictable. A regular feeding and playtime schedule helps decrease stress because a cat will know what to expect. Giving them their own space with a choice of beds and toys — so they don’t get bored and don’t have to share — may help as well.

How to get the smell of cat pee out of your home

The other major downside to cat pee is that it’s hard to clean up if your cat pees anywhere other than in their litter box. When cat pee gets into fabrics or carpets, those same compounds that cause the smell tend to dig in and stay put. Cleaning cat pee often requires multiple steps of blotting and then applying an enzymatic cleaner to fully remove all parts of the urine.

Bottom line

Cats naturally have strong-smelling pee because of the waste products that are in it. The smell tends to get worse the longer it sits, and can become more intense with certain health issues, such as dehydration or diabetes. If your cat’s urine has suddenly taken on an excessively bad odor, see your veterinarian.

FAQs

Why does my cat’s pee smell stronger than usual?

A stronger smell to your cat’s pee can indicate many health issues. Serious issues such as dehydration, diabetes, and UTIs may be to blame and will require veterinary treatment.

What can I give my cat to reduce the urine smell?

There’s no magic anti-odor pill that you can give your cat to freshen the scent of their urine, but you may run across supplements or diets designed for this. Be sure to speak with your veterinarian to decide if any of these products or diets are right for your cat. Otherwise, ensuring they stay hydrated and healthy is your best option

How do I get rid of cat pee smell?

Cat pee odors are very difficult to remove from your home and often require a multi-step approach. First, blot up as much of the liquid as possible. Next, apply an enzymatic cleaner to fully remove the urine components. Let it dry, then vacuum or wipe the area.

What is in cat urine that makes it smell so bad?

Urine is the body’s way of getting rid of excess water and waste. Some of those waste products, mainly urea and felinine, emit strong odors as they decompose, giving cat pee its distinctive smell. Typically, the older the urine is, the more it will smell.

References

• “A Major Urinary Protein of the Domestic Cat Regulates the Production of Felinine, a Putative Pheromone Precursor.” Science Direct. Oct 2006. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1074552106003097.

• “Chronic Kidney Disease.” Cornell Feline Health Center. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/chronic-kidney-disease.

• “Feline Diabetes.” Cornell Feline Health Center.https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-diabetes.

• “Hydration.” Cornell Feline Health Center. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/hydration.