STRONG SMELL OF AMMONIA COMING FROM CAT URINE: NORMAL OR A CAUSE FOR CONCERN?

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06/01/2021 owner reviews 2,

Our cats' urine smells like ammonia. The ammonia in cat urine has a disgusting, unpleasant odor and lasts for quite a long time. As an indoor cat parent, you're probably worried about how strong the smell of her urine is. This is fine? Or should you be worried? Let's find out.

• Composition of cat urine
• What Can Cause Strong Urine Odor?
• What to do to remove strong urine odor

Types of bad smelling urine

Urine is considered one of the important indicators of pet health. Showing its color and smell directly indicate latent diseases and allows you to make a timely visit to the veterinary clinic for a full diagnostic examination.

The smell of ammonia from urine is very strong and cannot be ignored.

Strong and unnatural aromas are impossible to miss. In a healthy pet, the urine is almost transparent with a slight yellowish tint and a surface admixture of ammonia. The changes that may occur may be related to:

• with physiological processes. A change in diet, moving, and severe fright can be a source of unpleasant odors. For some animals, it is enough to change their usual diet, increase the volume of fluid they receive, and not leave them alone for a long time, so that the clinical signs of the abnormality spontaneously disappear;
• with pathological problems. Diseases that occur unnoticed after some time manifest themselves with severe symptoms. The pet becomes nervous and tries to hide or attract attention.

Important! If for physiological types of deviations treatment is not required for animals, then for pathological ones any delay can cost them their lives. Do not delay visiting the veterinarian or try to self-medicate.

Types of urine smell

What to do?

When choosing therapy, it is worth considering the age, sex of the animal and stage of the disease. Often, with diseases of the urinary system, it is impossible to completely cure a cat. This is due to the fact that symptoms often appear late and pet owners seek advice from a veterinarian when the disease has passed the first stage of development. But if you follow all the doctor’s instructions and start the selected therapy in a timely manner, long-term remission can be achieved.

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Strong urine odor due to natural causes

Why does one house smell like cats, but not another?

Why does my cat's urine stink? The problem is related to physiological processes that do not have a serious effect on his body. Experts believe that severe stressful situations can change metabolic processes. Moving, meeting relatives or dogs while walking, or being ignored by the owner can be the root cause for a change in the aroma of urine. After the stress disappears, the condition returns to normal on its own without outside help.

Important! If clinical manifestations do not go away within 2 weeks, then the animal needs the help of a specialist.

Poor nutrition

A cat may develop smelly urine if the menu is incorrectly selected. Common errors include high protein content, which provokes disturbances in protein metabolism in the body, which causes an increase in the level of ammonia derivatives in the urine.

The deviation is detected in pets that are constantly fed chicken and fish. Protein elements from them are absorbed by the body by 80%. Changing your usual diet and adding dairy products, vegetables and cereals to it helps regulate the functionality of internal organs and get rid of repulsive odors emanating from the cat's litter box.

Note! Deviations can be caused by cheap dry food, consisting of by-products and completely unbalanced. If the animal is simultaneously limited in water, the ammonia smell will be even stronger.

Poor diet is a sign of bad urine odor

Lack of fluid (dehydration)

The next factor that causes a cat’s urine to smell strongly of acetone is the high concentration of urea (a derivative of ammonia). The indicators are directly related to the volume of liquid consumed by the pet. The solution to the problem is to provide free access to clean drinking water.

Puberty

A cat's urine smells like ammonia during the period of sexual heat and physiological maturation. In males the process is more pronounced compared to females. Specific aromas are associated with the secretion of the gonads.

For your information! The generally accepted misconception that if you castrate an animal, the issue will be resolved, there is no justification. Many owners of furry pets note that surgery has not changed anything except their character. Severe fearfulness or aggression does not affect the ammonia fumes spreading throughout the house from the cat's litter box.

Signs of heat

Medications

If a cat is diagnosed with dehydration, then intravenous use of saline solutions is prescribed. For inflammatory diseases, the doctor prescribes antibiotics. To improve the removal of stagnant fluid in the body, diuretics are used. But such drugs should be selected individually for each pet. To maintain the general condition of the body, vitamin therapy is used. If the source of why a cat stinks of urine is severe stress, then veterinarians will prescribe herbal-based sedatives. Such drugs include Fitex and Kot Bayun. In severe cases, surgery is used. If the cat's urine begins to smell unpleasant due to sexual heat, then doctors recommend resorting to castration.

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How to get rid of unpleasant urine odor

If your cat constantly smells of urine, then the issue is non-compliance with hygiene standards. First of all, you need to promptly clean its potty, rinsing it with disinfectants, and pay attention to whether the pet lies in its own excrement. This problem is observed in animals with long hair or behavioral disorders (fear of punishment for using foreign places as a toilet).

Diet adjustments

Why does my dog's breath smell like rotten meat?

Changes in routine can reduce off-putting aromas. When selecting food, preference is given to high-quality food at the premium and super-premium levels, for holistic people.

Important! The owner should not forget that attempts to mix a commercial diet with natural additives will lead to complex diseases of the pet’s gastrointestinal tract.

When feeding self-prepared food, you need to normalize protein metabolism and reduce the amount of:

• chicken;
• raw meat;
• offal;
• fish.

Protein mononutrition provokes kidney and liver dysfunction. Add to the diet:

• vegetable crops - cabbage, carrots, zucchini;
• cereals - rice, buckwheat, oatmeal;
• fermented milk products - cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt and low-fat cream.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to feed the kitten from the table. Sausage, canned food, pasta and soups cause significant harm to the health of four-legged animals.

Super premium food

Healthy feeding rules

The cat is a carnivore. The basis of the diet should be animal feed:

• meat;
• fish;
• eggs;
• dairy products.

Practice shows that constant feeding of dry food, even the most “promoted” brands, does not add health. Among these “eaters” there are no long-livers. Humans are not yet able to select an animal’s diet with molecular precision so that it is balanced by:

• natural proteins;
• carbohydrates;
• fats;
• minerals;
• vitamins.

If the aroma appeared after castration

Dark urine in a dog: causes of a brown tint

Why doesn't my cat's urine stop smelling? Surgery does not guarantee the disappearance of unpleasant odors. The animal needs to change its usual diet and increase fluid volumes. If this approach does not produce results, then the owner will have to pay a visit to the veterinary clinic and undergo a full examination with the pet.

The appearance of repulsive aromas after castration is associated with hormonal imbalance or a hidden inflammatory process. Self-medication will not eliminate the problem, but can only worsen the condition. The clinic will offer blood and urine tests; based on the diagnostics, a diagnosis will be made and appropriate therapy will be prescribed.

Hygiene rules for cats

A healthy cat takes care of itself. She spends a third of the day on this. However, the owner is also obliged to take part in this.

Cat hygiene consists of caring for:

• skin and hair. This includes bathing, combing while simultaneously examining and palpating the skin. To do this, you can use special shampoos and foams, combs and comb mittens. (For long-haired ones, you need a set of different combs). The animal should be bathed 2 times a month; hairless breeds that sweat profusely in summer should be bathed daily. If the animal is unwell, bathing is not used. You need to comb it 2 times a week (daily during the molting period);

• ears . They should be cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in warm water or zoo lotion. Using smooth movements and turning the swab clockwise, you can easily clean your cat's ears. If the accumulation of dirt is large, dry and old, then you can drop a few drops of lotion, sunflower oil or water into the cavity. The animal will shake out the excess, and what remains will soak the crusts. Next, you can use a cotton swab. The hygiene procedure is carried out once a week;

• oral cavity. The removal of stones and plaque should be carried out by a specialist in the clinic. For prevention, the cat should be given solid food and allowed to chew on soft bones and cartilage.

Reasons why urine starts to smell unusual

Pathological changes in the body cause a variety of clinical signs. Individual hormonal imbalances and cancerous lesions lead to the appearance of a secondary putrid odor, which cannot but alert the owner. In some cases, only changes in urine are extraneous manifestations indicating the active development of diseases.

Note! Cats are susceptible to endocrine diseases just like humans. Disorders of the thyroid gland or diabetes mellitus provoke the appearance of a sweetish odor emanating from the pet.

Hyperthyroidism in a cat

Kidney diseases

Pathological processes in the urinary department do not end with inflammation of the kidneys. The list includes bacterial infections of the bladder and urethral canal. The process is determined by disturbances in the excretion of urine; against the background of an increase in the concentration of urea in the body, the active reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms begins.

Important! Fetid aromas require a full diagnosis and subsequent treatment with a course of antibiotics.

Products for removing cat urine from different surfaces

In order not to spoil things when cleaning, you should figure out how and with what to clean certain surfaces.

Carpets.

Sprinkle the stain with baking soda and citrus juice and wipe. Do not touch for a couple of hours. Next, clean with clean water.

Sofas, armchairs.

Apply a weak solution of potassium permanganate to the stained area, then add a little crushed laundry soap. Remove after an hour. Iodine is suitable for upholstered furniture in dark shades.

Laminate or Linoleum.

Make a solution of vinegar and water, in a ratio of one to one. Apply to the stained area on a rag and leave until completely dry.

Tree.

Apply a couple of tablespoons of baking soda for 30 minutes, then remove and apply grated laundry soap. Remove after 60 minutes.

Plants.

Place the flower in the sink and then pour 1 liter of warm water into it, in which an activated carbon tablet is diluted. Pour this water through the flower. Let it drain and return the plant to its place.

Bed linen and mattresses.

Rinse the area of ​​contamination with mineral water and sprinkle with salt. After two hours, put the laundry in the wash along with one spoon of vinegar.

Accompanying symptoms

A sick animal begins to show anxiety long before the appearance of pronounced clinical symptoms. The pet diligently licks the area of ​​the urethra, and is haunted by a regular urge to empty the bladder. The result of these attempts is the release of small volumes of cloudy liquid with a pronounced ammonia aroma.

Secondary symptoms include:

• overheating condition. The pet begins to breathe with its mouth open, trying to stabilize its body temperature;
• dry nose, hot ears and changes in the appearance of mucous membranes. The anomaly reports dehydration;
• anxiety, dilated pupils, attempts to rub against various objects, screaming. Increased activity at night and attempts to escape outside indicate the onset of sexual desire and a sharp release of hormones;
• problems with bowel movements, obesity, lethargy, untidiness and bad breath. Signs indicate an incorrectly selected diet;
• pain and stinging when urinating, excretion of urine by drip, frequent trips to the litter box, constant thirst, inflammatory processes in the external genital organs, loss of appetite and apathy. Renal pathologies and lesions of the urinary tract appear;
• constant thirst, weight gain or loss. Symptoms accompany endocrine pathologies;
• nausea, vomiting, changes in behavior. The signs reveal the development of oncological tumors.

Important! Stressful situations provoke attempts to escape, hide in a secluded place (under the bed, behind a closet or sofa). Animals experience involuntary trembling, attempts to curl up into a ball, and dilated eyes. If unusual manifestations are detected, the animal should be shown to a doctor.

Symptoms of genitourinary diseases

Actions to take if a symptom is detected

Experts recommend not to self-medicate on the advice of experienced friends or articles from the Internet. Without a full diagnostic examination, it is almost impossible to determine the source of the problem, and attempts to give a pet a completely inappropriate drug can end sadly, ranging from banal poisoning to failure of vital organs.

A visit to the veterinarian is extremely important in any case.

Visit to the doctor

After detecting unpleasant signs, the owner must call the veterinary clinic and schedule an appointment with the veterinarian. At the appointment, the specialist will ask in detail about the manifestations of the disease:

• frequency of visits to the tray;
• unreasonable restless behavior;
• problems with urination;
• refusal to eat;
• apathetic state and general lethargy.

After examining the animal and palpation examination, the veterinarian will write out a referral for urine and blood tests, and if serious pathologies are suspected, for an ultrasound or x-ray.

Note! In order not to waste time, before going to the hospital, you can collect urine and feces in containers and come to the appointment with them. In some cases, this will help save the life of a pet with kidney failure or other serious illness.

The doctor may prescribe an ultrasound for your pet.

When to contact a veterinarian

Considering that a healthy animal does not smell, any smell that is unusual for the owner should be the reason for a visit to the veterinarian.

You cannot debug a visit for a long time. Microflora develops very quickly. Purulent processes tend to end in sepsis and death of the animal.

You should consult a doctor immediately if:

• the animal is oppressed;
• elevated body temperature was recorded;
• the cat shows aggression and constant interest in the problem area;
• inflammatory purulent processes were found on the skin;
• the smell is “smelled” from the nose and other symptoms quickly join it;
• the cat shakes its head, discharge and an unpleasant odor are visible;
• prenatal processes are not typical with a foul odor;
• postpartum discharge is profuse and there is a stench;
• the anus is inflamed and smells unpleasant.

When contacting a doctor, laboratory and clinical examinations will be performed.

If necessary, the doctor will prescribe:

• dermatological shampoos;
• antibiotics;
• ear drops;
• change of diet;
• surgical intervention.

Prevention of the problem

Preventive actions:

• normalization of nutrition. Low-quality feed and attempts to feed table scraps should be avoided;
• free access to drinking water. The animal should not have problems quenching its thirst;
• eliminating stress. The pet should not be left alone for a long time; when moving, you should not put its basket in your luggage;
• Get checked by a veterinarian promptly. An annual visit will reduce the risk of latent disease;
• Once a course of therapy has been prescribed, it is strictly prohibited to stop treating the cat. Pathology can develop into damage to internal organs.

Constant monitoring of the behavior and general condition of four-legged animals will help to promptly identify an onset of illness or correct deficiencies in care. Fresh water, balanced food, vitamin therapy and vaccinations increase the chances of a quiet life without regular infections or problems with the functioning of internal organs.

If there is a strong aroma of ammonia in the apartment after leaving your pet, then you should think about the source of its appearance. Using secondary signs, you can determine the cause of the deviation and, if it is related to physiological characteristics, remove the factors that provoke it. In other cases, the only solution to the problem will be a visit to a veterinary clinic, where treatment will be prescribed.

What is the norm?

A good place to start is to look at the normal urine values ​​(physical and chemical) of a normal, healthy adult cat. You don't have to be an expert to spot abnormalities, especially when it comes to why your cat's urine smells strong.

In a healthy animal, the urine is homogeneous, liquid, transparent, but in no case cloudy; The color is bright yellow, comparable to the color of straw. The smell is pungent, ammonia-like, into the nose. The fact is that the liquid contains ammonia derivatives. Also, sexually mature individuals secrete corresponding secretions that attract the opposite sex. If a cat relieves itself too rarely in small quantities, this is a signal that it has some problems. The same can be said about frequent visits to the tray with an extremely copious amount of fluid secreted. We pay attention to the regularity and amount of precipitation.