New 6 month old kitten question

[Michele and Mystic 1]

I recently purchased a new kitten from Mid Michigan Rescue group. After mystic passed away is june, I felt it was time to take my mind away from my grief by adding a new kitty to my household. She is a female, spayed, up to date on shots, 6 months old. Her last vet check was in August and she was reported to be in perfect health. I have the vet records. I have had her for 2 weeks now, and I have noticed she has pretty bad breath. Also, her litter box has smelt weird since day 1. I thought maybe it was just "her smell" and it was normal. However, i am questioning my original theory. She does not have the smell of a diabetic kitty. Its really different. I have been changing the liter box every 3 days because my house just smells like her and I cant stand it. I havent notcied anything usual when i do change it. It looks normal. She also is very energetic and eats very good. She is eating Iams kitten chow. She doesnt drink more than usual either. Does anyone have any ideas of what is going on or is this "her normal smell"? any ideas or suggestions would be helpful.

 

[Randi & Max (GA)]

Hi Michele
I am sorry to hear about Mystic and congratulations on your new baby.
Your post caught my eye beacuse I too have a new baby kitten, 5 months old
and her breath is also really terrible and yesterday my daughter told me
that she smelled liked pee. She uses the litter box, no problem.
I will be curious to see what responses you get. My kitty is only eating
wet FF, (there is no dry in my house). And I never see her drink, I have a fountain but it could be when I am not aroud.
Otherwise she is healthy and very active.

 

[KarenRamboConan]

I'm glad her reports are all good, but you're going to want a vet check of your own, anyway, so this may be a good time to set up an introductory visit with your vet. Get her to check teeth first, of course, because of the bad breath. And take in a poop sample to be tested for gardia and parasites.

And then... and you knew someone would say it! ... get her off the dry food and start her on canned. At her age, she needs that moisture to develop healthy kidneys, and she needs the real meat to develop her bones and muscles.

Who knows... maybe she is just a stinky kitty, but I hope she outgrows that! So congratulations and what's her name?

 

[tuckers mom]

Is this the age when adult teeth come in? Could a baby tooth be stuck and causing an infection? I'm not a kitten expert at all, if it were me, any new cat that came to my home would get a wellness visit, maybe set one up and let the vet see your new baby.

 

[Michele and Mystic 1]

Thanks for the responses. Yes I planned on setting up a visit but Im not going to be able to take her to the vet until Sat because of my work schedule. I think I will check her mouth when i get home and see if I can see anything going on with her teeth or any redness or irritation. And yes, I knew someone would tell me to get her on wet food lolol I plan on doing it. I was just using up the food the rescue group gave me first. lol Her name is Minnie. She is gray and creme and a bundle of energy. I hope this stinkiness problem is something she will out grow because ive went through a can of air freshener already lol. Does anyone thing putting plain baking soda in her liter box would help?

 

[PeterDevonMocha]

Hi Michele! I'm so glad you got a new kitten! I hope you are able to take her into the vet and have her all checked out with a clean bill of health ... I know she's going to have a great furever home with you guys!

 

[Gina & Yittle (GA)]

I know one of our cats has a genetic condition where his teeth rot faster then normal. Its possible your cat has that too, or has an infected baby tooth as was previously suggested.

As for the other end.... I don't know what other people call it, but the old Vet we loved (who has Crossed the Rainbow Bridge himself) used to talk about something he called "Feral Colon". Can't tell you what the science of it was, but boy was he right. Any time we caught a feral cat or any cat who had lived outside and hunted ooo boy did the litter box smell like something died for months. On average it took up to 6 months of feeding them good cat food inside before they stopped clearing the house. It also seems to happen with kittens who's mothers were feral and who had poor nutrition during their early months. Generally it got better after a few months. Although owning 7, I can tell you none of them smell like roses but we've got one or two (who's names I will withhold to protect the guilty) who can still clear the house.