stinky cat

Question
I just got a 2nd cat and I have noticed that (her head especially) is very smelly. It kind of reminds me of a pig farm. Chloe, the new kitty is about 6 weeks old and was rescued about 2 weeks ago with her brother and sister from outside a school in town. I have had Chloe less than 5 days, but she has been eating the same things as my other cat, who doesn't really smell like anything, and Chloe seems to groom herself normally. I thought I would try to give her a bath and use a small amount of shampoo to wash out the smell but it didn't make any difference. Could there be something wrong with her, or do some cats just smell?

Answer
Hi Krista.  No, no cat should ever be smelly.  I'm not sure what type of situation she was found in, but there are some odors that just cling to the fur that are extremely difficult to get out.  One of the kittens I rescued was found in a nest with a dead litter mate, and that odor was on his fur for several weeks, no matter how many baths I gave him.  If the kitten was found in refuse or a similar situation, then it's possible this is the reason, and the odor should go away with time.  You can use a mixture of baking soda, peroxide and dish soap to try to help a little.  It's most effective on fresh stains, like skunk spray, but it might help deodorize her a little further if the smell is coming from her fur.  Mix 1 quart of peroxide with 1/4 cup of baking soda, and add 1 teaspoon of Dawn or Palmolive.  Lather well and then rinse.

However, if the smell could be coming from her ears or mouth, then she probably has an infection.  The ears can be very smelly if the kitten has a yeast or bacterial infection in the ears.  This requires an antibiotic ear ointment and sometimes an oral antibiotic (in the case of bacterial infections) to treat.  If she has an oral infection, this would explain why she has an odor on the rest of her body.  As she grooms, she deposits smelly bacteria from her infected mouth onto her fur.  Oral infections are common in young kittens due to a virus called calici, which may leave open sores in the mouth.  Bacteria set into these sores and cause a bad odor.  Kittens can also get mouth infections when they are growing in teeth, and she's at the right age.  Also, an upper respiratory infection called feline herpes will cause a terrible odor that comes from the nose or mouth.  You will notice a stuffy nose with this disease, though.

If she hadn't seen the vet before you adopted her, now would be a good time to schedule an appointment for her to get her first vaccinations, and then you can have her checked out to make sure the odor is nothing to be concerned about.  If she's already had her first vaccinations, she will need boosters in a month.  You can ask about the odor then, unless she develops other symptoms sooner, in which case she should definitely get in to the vet right away.  Watch for signs of discomfort such as pawing at the mouth or ears, redness in the ears or around the eyes, drooling, refusal to eat or lethargy.

Good luck, and enjoy your new little one!

Jessica