Cat urine is not generally known for having a good smell. That’s why cat litter companies have worked so hard to create products that trap or mask natural odors. While smelly cat urine may seem like a blessing, it can actually be a sign that something is wrong with your pet. So, if your cat’s urine starts to smell this way, it’s time to see the vet. Here are some potential reasons for the sudden sweetness coming from your cat’s litter box.
The 4 Reasons for Smelly Cat Urine
1. Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is a common issue among our feline friends. This disease occurs when the cat’s body does not produce enough or does not respond properly to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that moves glucose from the blood into the cells to be used for energy. This leads to extremely high blood glucose and the potential for damage to cells that need that glucose for energy and are not getting it. Instead, they have to find energy elsewhere, usually by breaking down fat stores. This can cause a cat to lose weight even if they are eating well.
As blood glucose levels rise, excess glucose can leak into the urine, creating a sweet smell and sticky appearance. To help balance high levels of glucose in the urine, the kidneys will increase water consumption to try to dilute the concentration. What you will notice in your cat is an increase in water consumption, followed by an increase in urination. Usually, they drink a lot and then urinate sweet-smelling, sticky urine. At the same time, the breakdown of fats can produce ketones, which can also be excreted in the urine. Ketones also tend to have a fruity smell.
Diabetes requires lifelong management, including weight loss, dietary changes, and often, supplemental insulin. See your vet if you notice a sweet smell or sticky appearance in your cat’s urine or if they are losing weight or drinking more water than usual.
2. Kidney Disease
Diabetes is the most common reason why your cat’s urine smells sweet, but another reason could be kidney disease. This condition usually creates a concentrated, overpowering ammonia smell, but some people may interpret this smell as sweet rather than acidic or something else.
Watch for other signs, such as increased water consumption, increased urination, impotence, and dizziness. Kidney disease in cats requires lifelong treatment.
3. UTI
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common cause of foul-smelling urine in a cat. Although this often leads to what is described as a musty or fishy smell, some owners may perceive it as sweet. UTIs can also cause cloudy or bloody urine, drinking more, going to the litter box more often, and having to urinate. Cats can lick their bottoms with new ferocity.
UTIs can usually be treated with antibiotics and sometimes a change in diet if the cat is also having problems with urinary crystals or stones.
4. Skin Infection
A skin infection around the genital area may be to blame for your cat’s smelly urine. Bacteria and yeast love places that are warm and moist, two easy conditions to reach if your lusciously plump kitty has an extra fold of skin in their rear region. Severe cats or those with painful back issues such as arthritis may also have difficulty cleaning there, allowing an infection to enter and grow unchecked.
You may notice a sweet or foul smell in the area, along with redness, oozing, or persistent licking.
What Should Normal Cat Urine Smell Like?
It’s hard to judge if something is abnormal until you know what is normal in the first place. Healthy cat urine should have a stronger odor than your own urine or dog urine. It usually has an ammonia smell, especially if it has been sitting for a day or two in the litter box. The smell of fresh cat urine shouldn’t knock your socks off, but it will be noticeable. Cat urine that leaves your eyes watery or has a fishy or sweet smell means something is wrong.
Is Smelly Cat Urine Worrying?
While it seems like every cat owner’s dream to replace the ammonia smell of normal cat urine, smelly urine is a red flag that something is wrong with your cat’s health. Any change in the smell, color, or amount of urine or your cat’s urination habits warrants a visit to your veterinarian.
What To Do If Your Cat’s Urine Starts To Smell
Take your kitten to the vet as soon as possible, especially if you notice other signs, such as weight loss, increased thirst, lethargy, or bad breath. Your veterinarian will begin with a thorough exam to check your cat’s hydration levels, among other things. They will also likely run bloodwork and perform a urinalysis to check organ function, blood glucose levels, and urine glucose and to see if your cat’s signs are due to a UTI.
Treatment starts from there, with UTIs receiving antibiotics and possibly, a change in diet. Skin infections can be treated with proper hair cutting and cleaning and oral or topical medications.
Kidney disease will likely be treated with a change in diet, possibly fluids, and other medications to help with blood pressure, anemia, and protein loss. Diabetes is usually managed with a low-carbohydrate diet and insulin administration. This will require frequent monitoring to ensure that the correct dose of insulin is being administered. Neither kidney disease nor diabetes can be cured and will require lifelong treatment and management.
How to Clean Up Cat Urine
Any of these health conditions can also cause your cat to urinate outside of their litter box. This could be bad news for your carpet, rug, flooring, or furniture. Cat urine is particularly difficult to clean up because you have to remove all parts of it to properly remove the smell. Urine from diabetic cats is sticky due to being full of glucose and may prove more difficult to remove.
The best way to clean cat urine is to use an enzymatic cleaner. This product actually breaks down the components of urine into compounds that can be removed and no longer smell. Start by blotting out as much liquid as possible, and then apply the cleaner. Some products require you to scrub it, while others just need to sit in place until it dries. Then, you may need to follow up with a quick wipe, and then the smell and residue in the urine will be gone.
Our Favorite Enzyme Cleaner
The Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is our favorite enzyme cleaner out there. It permanently removes even the worst stains and kitty odors, leaving your home fresh and clean! Click here to learn more about this amazing product and grab a bottle.
Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray
- ADVANCED ENZYMATIC CLEANER – Penetrates the toughest odors and stains to the deepest molecular…
- FOR ANY MESS, ON ANY SURFACE – This pet odor eliminator cleans your carpets, floors, furniture,…
- FRESH, NATURAL ODOR – Our unique formulation does not rely on harmful or unpleasant chemical…
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so we can benefit from the unique products of this cool cat company!
Conclusion
Your cat’s urine starting to smell sweet may seem like a dream come true but is often an indication of feline diabetes, a potentially serious disease if left untreated. It could also be due to a number of other things, such as kidney disease, a UTI, or a skin infection, so it’s best to see your vet if your cat’s urine odor changes in any way or if you notice anything else signs, such as increased drinking, weight loss, or dizziness.
Featured Image Credit: sandyman, Shutterstock
