Cat urine naturally has a fairly noticeable smell, particularly when it sits in a litter tray for a while. However, if your cat’s urine suddenly smells stronger or different than usual, it’s worth paying attention to any other changes you may be seeing.
Why Does Cat Urine Smell?
Urine contains waste products that the body removes through the kidneys. As urine sits, bacteria begin to break down some of its components and the smell can become much stronger. This is one reason regular litter tray scooping makes such a difference to odour around the home.
Could Concentrated Urine Smell Stronger?
Urine can become more concentrated when a cat is taking in less water, and concentrated urine may have a stronger smell. How much a cat drinks can vary depending on their diet, environment and individual needs. Cats eating wet food, for example, receive a significant amount of water through their food and may drink less from their water bowl than cats eating predominantly dry food.
When Should I Be Concerned?
A change in urine smell on its own doesn’t tell you what is causing it, but it’s important to watch for other changes in your cat’s urination.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice your cat:
- Urinating more or less often than usual
- Making frequent trips to the litter tray
- Straining or having difficulty passing urine
- Passing only small amounts of urine
- Urinating outside the litter tray
- Crying or appearing uncomfortable when urinating
- Passing blood in the urine
- Drinking noticeably more than usual
Changes in urination can be associated with a number of urinary or other health problems and need veterinary assessment.
A Special Note for Male Cats
Difficulty passing urine in a male cat can be an emergency. A urinary blockage can prevent a cat from passing urine and can quickly become life-threatening. If your male cat is repeatedly trying to urinate but producing little or no urine, appears distressed, or you’re unsure whether they’re able to pass urine normally, seek veterinary attention immediately.
What Can I Do About Normal Litter Tray Odour?
If your cat is otherwise well and their urine hasn’t changed, regular litter tray maintenance is the best place to start. Scoop waste at least daily, replace litter as required and regularly wash the tray.
Choosing an absorbent litter with good odour control can also help. Odour-control products may be useful, but shouldn’t be used to simply disguise a new or unusual urine smell without considering why it has changed.