we just brought home a new kitty from the shelter. we've named him lieutenant columbo because he's got something wonky going on with his eyes (shelter said something is up with his third eyelid but it does not affect his eyesight). he's a black one year old kitty with very sparse white markings just under his chin and on the lower end of his belly. he was surrendered to the shelter as a stray. i'll admit that i passed him up when i was first walking around the shelter as he's a bit of an odd duck, looks-wise. but he is really the sweetest cat i've ever met, there's no wrong way to pet him or pick him up and he can't get enough love from you, ever. we couldn't resist and had to bring him home with us.
when we let him out of the carrier at home, he fit right in, no fear or shyness. immediately wanted to step out of the room we had him confined in but we decided to keep him there overnight just in case. he also seems to have a bit of a cold (sneezing, some eye boogers, lots of swallowing and sniffling) and we're taking him to our regular vet tomorrow when they open. he is eating, drinking and playing normally so we aren't treating it as an emergency to get him to the vet asap.
now the only issue we are really puzzled by is...
his poop stinks. i mean, it's poop, so, naturally it has an odor but gosh this is odor like i've never smelled before. i'm trying to think what it smells like and it reminds me of very pungent, strong-smelling fertilizer. i read that some cats have smelly poop because of parasites but the symptoms are watery, mucus-based diarrhea and so far lt. columbo's poops have been normal except for the smell. i literally can't even step into that room he's in because the smell makes me gag. i tried cracking the window open but that only helped minimally and the room gets so cold during this time of year. i don't want to spray febreeze because he's already got a sensitive nose what with his cold. i don't know what to do! long term, this room is going to literally soak up that smell and no one's going to be able to enter that room.
here are some of the things i'm planning to do:
1. see if the diet we have him on (sheba pate) will change the smell of his poop in the next week
2. if that doesn't work, experiment with different grain-free canned foods
3. if that also doesn't work, bring him to the vet to get his stool tested (does anyone know how much that might cost on average - vet fees can be so terrifyingly high, just hope that our emergency vet fund will cover this)
should i be doing anything or worrying more about his extra stinky poop?
thanks in advance for anyone who can help.
when we let him out of the carrier at home, he fit right in, no fear or shyness. immediately wanted to step out of the room we had him confined in but we decided to keep him there overnight just in case. he also seems to have a bit of a cold (sneezing, some eye boogers, lots of swallowing and sniffling) and we're taking him to our regular vet tomorrow when they open. he is eating, drinking and playing normally so we aren't treating it as an emergency to get him to the vet asap.
now the only issue we are really puzzled by is...
his poop stinks. i mean, it's poop, so, naturally it has an odor but gosh this is odor like i've never smelled before. i'm trying to think what it smells like and it reminds me of very pungent, strong-smelling fertilizer. i read that some cats have smelly poop because of parasites but the symptoms are watery, mucus-based diarrhea and so far lt. columbo's poops have been normal except for the smell. i literally can't even step into that room he's in because the smell makes me gag. i tried cracking the window open but that only helped minimally and the room gets so cold during this time of year. i don't want to spray febreeze because he's already got a sensitive nose what with his cold. i don't know what to do! long term, this room is going to literally soak up that smell and no one's going to be able to enter that room.
here are some of the things i'm planning to do:
1. see if the diet we have him on (sheba pate) will change the smell of his poop in the next week
2. if that doesn't work, experiment with different grain-free canned foods
3. if that also doesn't work, bring him to the vet to get his stool tested (does anyone know how much that might cost on average - vet fees can be so terrifyingly high, just hope that our emergency vet fund will cover this)
should i be doing anything or worrying more about his extra stinky poop?
thanks in advance for anyone who can help.
