The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Cat Food for Smelly Poop

Welcome to our in-depth guide on choosing the best cat food to solve your pet’s smelly feces problem. It can be uncomfortable to deal with bad-smelling excrement for both you and your cat, but don’t worry—we’re here to support you through this difficult situation.

Understanding the Problem

It’s important to comprehend the reasons behind your cat’s foul odor before moving on to the cure. This problem can be caused by a number of things, such as food, intestinal health, and water retention. Smelly feces can result from a number of medical issues, including parasite infections and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as from eating cat food of poor quality that contains inferior ingredients.

Importance of Diet

Your cat’s general health, which includes decreasing odor in their stool and preserving digestive health, is mostly dependent on eating a balanced diet. Select cat foods that are low in artificial additives and fillers, high in protein, and rich in nutrients. Seek out high-end brands that put an emphasis on high-quality ingredients and steer clear of common irritants or allergies.

Types of Cat Food

Dry Cat Food

Kibble, or dry cat food, is more convenient and frequently less expensive than wet food. But it’s important to choose a high-quality dry meal that offers sufficient nutrients without being overly dependent on grains and carbs. Seek products with low fillers and identified animal proteins as the main ingredients.

Wet Cat Food

The increased moisture level of wet cat food can be advantageous for both digestive health and hydration. Choose canned goods with real meat as the primary ingredient rather than ones with a lot of chemicals or byproducts. For cats who are prone to constipation or urinary problems, wet food might be very beneficial.

Raw or Homemade Cat Food

Some pet owners prefer to feed their cats a raw or homemade diet to ensure complete control over ingredients. While this approach can be beneficial when done correctly, it requires meticulous meal planning to ensure proper nutrient balance. Consult with a veterinarian or animal nutritionist before transitioning to a raw or homemade diet.

Key Ingredients to Look For

The following essential elements should be given top priority when choosing cat chow to prevent stinky poop:

• Superior-Grade Protein: Seek out identified animal proteins like turkey, chicken, fish, or cattle.
• Digestible Carbohydrates: Choose whole grains or minimally processed carbohydrates like peas or sweet potatoes.
• Good Fats: For the health of your skin and coat, choose foods high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
• Probiotics and prebiotics: These digestive supplements have the potential to lessen odor and support a healthy gut microbiota.
• Natural Fiber: Foods high in fiber, such as chia or pumpkin seeds, can improve digestion and control bowel

Additional Tips for Managing Smelly Poop

Apart from choosing appropriate cat food, take into account the subsequent advice to assist in handling foul-smelling excrement in your feline friend:

• Hydration: To avoid dehydration, which can worsen digestive problems, make sure your cat always has access to fresh water.
• Frequent visits to the vet: Make time for regular check-ups with your veterinarian to ensure your cat is healthy overall and to address any underlying medical issues.
• Gradual Transitions: To reduce stomach distress, gradually change your cat’s food over the course of several days.
• Litter Box Upkeep: To prevent odor accumulation, keep your cat’s litter box clean and scooped regularly.
• Stress management:Reduce the amount of stress in your cat’s surroundings because stress can aggravate stomach problems.

Best Cat Food For Smelly Poop: Our Top 12 Choices in 2024

There are several causes for your cat’s foul odor, but food is frequently a major factor.

We are certain that we can assist you in locating the best cat food for foul-smelling poop after researching the relationship between waste and cat food.

As cat owners, we are aware that the smell of cat feces can be among the worst things ever. I used to wish I could wear a mask every time I cleaned the litter box.

Thankfully, that is now behind me. If you’re experiencing what I did back then, you might be eager to discover a quick fix.

Continue reading for a detailed explanation on how to handle cats’ disagreeable feces.

Why Does Cat Poop Smell?

Naturally, stools aren’t particularly aromatic, but occasionally they might smell really pungent and foul.

There are several possible causes of bad-smelling cat poop, so it’s critical to identify the one that’s bothering both you and your cat so you can take the appropriate action. Let’s discuss each one in turn.

1. Your cat’s diet is low-quality. 

Those inexpensive, brightly colored cat food products that your cat loves so much? These typically have a lot of artificial tastes and additives, which cause the excrement to smell bad.

Even though your cat might adore those commercial cat foods, the low quality components could also be the cause of his foul-smelling excrement.

Moreover, your cat might be reacting to one or more elements in the food he is eating because he has food allergies. Cats may consume foods that make them uncomfortable, which may result in the issue you are currently dealing with.

2. There are bacteria in his colon.

Eating cat food tainted with germs such as E. Coli or salmonella can result in foul-smelling feces, which are frequently accompanied by diarrhea, indigestion, and inflammation.

The story doesn’t end with cat food. The bacterium can potentially infect your cat if it eats any birds or rodents that it captures.

3. He’s got a parasite.

In cats, intestinal parasites can result in diarrhea, foul-smelling feces, and excessive gas. Cats can become infected with Coccidia, Trichomonas, and Giardia in a variety of ways, all of which can result in their excrement becoming foul-smelling.

• If your cat eats a contaminated mouse, he could become infected with coccidia.
• Typically, cats younger than a year old are infected with trichomonas. Shared litter boxes are one way for cats to contract it from one another.
• Typically, consuming or inhaling the cysts from contaminated ground or water, or directly from a contaminated host, is how Giardia is spread.

4. Your cat has digestive disorders.

The digestive system of cats can be quite sensitive. Poop can become rancid due to digestive issues experienced by certain felines.

They might not have enough digestive enzymes, have too much flora and fauna in their digestive tracts, or experience intestinal wall inflammation. These are all indicators of malabsorption, which is the cause of the potential bowel odor problems in your pet.

5. He’s on medication.

The medication your cat is taking if they are sick could be the cause of the foul-smelling excrement. Smelly feces can also be a side effect of those vitamin and mineral pills.

Unless your veterinarian instructs you otherwise, the majority of cat meals available today are full and well-balanced, so there’s really no need to augment your cat’s diet.

6. You’re buying the wrong kind of litter.

The smell of foul excrement cannot be completely covered up or concealed by the improper kind of litter. Try experimenting with several types of litter to determine which your cat responds to the best.

Use caution when making your choice. Certain cats have specific tastes in litter and, when upset, will urinate outside the box. While some cats are put off by strong smells, older cats require a litter that is gentle on their paws.

Our Top Pick Overall

Stella & Chewy’s Duck Duck Goose Dinner Morsels

First 5 Ingredients:

• Duck With Ground Bone
• Turkey With Ground Bone
• Turkey Liver
• Goose
• Turkey Gizzard

A pet food company called Stella & Chewy is dedicated to providing your cat with high-quality meals made with 100% organic fruits and vegetables and animal proteins that are produced ethically.

The meats are never treated with additional hormones or antibiotics, and the company never utilizes artificial flavors or additives.

Using 98% farm-raised duck and goose, including bone and organs, this dish is freeze-dried raw to create a meal that nearly resembles what cats would consume in the wild.

Turkey is listed on the label even though the name only states “duck and goose.” This could be the greatest option if your pet is allergic to chicken but not to other poultry.

Chewy.com users have given this dehydrated cat food formula a rating of 4.4 stars out of 5. Many cat owners have stated that their kitties are doing well on this diet and that they love the taste; however, a few have also noted that they have observed their cats are no longer producing nasty excrement. Additionally, the cats’ breath smells better.

A few reviews are unfavorable, but the most of the ones that exist center on fussy cats who won’t touch the food. The kibbles’ excessive size was another issue raised by some. No reviews mention any negative affects the food may have had on the animals.

One of the finest foods to feed cats with foul odors is generally raw food. The main explanation is thatThe majority of raw foods are mostly made of meat, have very little filler, and don’t include any preservatives.

This is freeze-dried food, which is an excellent substitute for fresh raw food, especially if convenience is your top priority.

In addition to its superb components and high protein content, this formulation was selected as the best cat food for smelly poop since it was made with sustainability in mind during the ingredient selection process.

Best Cat Foods for Smelly Poop: The Runners Up

1. The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Chicken and Fish

First 5 Ingredients:

• Dehydrated Chicken
• Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes
• Dehydrated Potatoes
• Flaxseed
• Dehydrated Eggs

A relatively new pet food company called The Honest Kitchen is dedicated to creating innovative recipes that provide the highest level of nutrition.

The company takes great satisfaction in portioning each meal according to calories and developing all of its formulations with the assistance of a group of PhDs and board-certified veterinary nutritionists. Every meal is thoughtfully crafted to provide your cat with exactly what he needs.

With a focus on high safety standards for your dog’s health, the brand makes sure that all of its recipes are made of only the best components—wholesome, natural, and high-quality food—by utilizing only products that are 100% safe for humans and creating formulations in facilities fit for humans.

This company provides a large range of pet supplies, including balanced and comprehensive meals, in wet, dry, and dehydrated forms.

2. Tiki Cat Raw Duck, Turkey Bone Broth & Pumpkin 

First 5 Ingredients:

• Duck
• Turkey Bone Broth
• Pumpkin
• Tricalcium Phosphate
• Potassium Chloride

The pet food company Tiki Pets, which also owns Tiki Cats, specializes on serving meals made with useful ingredients.

The Tiki Cat brand acknowledges that cats are obligate carnivores that do best when fed diets high in animal products. Its cat food recipes are all made with non-GMO ingredients, a high protein content, and appropriate amounts of hydration.

Cats may get the protein they want in its purest form—raw—with Tiki Cat RAW. The main ingredient in the cat food recipe is French duck.

The pumpkin adds the fiber your pet needs to avoid constipation or diarrhea and to improve digestibility, while the turkey bone broth adds moisture and taste to the dish. For the benefit of senior cats, it also contains chondroitin and glucosamine.

Chewy has just three reviews as of right now, but they are all five stars. The company is renowned for delivering high-quality meals to the table and is also very well-liked for its non-raw products.

The absence of superfluous additives in the food that can impede a cat’s digestive tract has pleased reviewers.

3. Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Meals Chicken Recipe

First 5 Ingredients:

• Chicken (including Ground Chicken Bone)
• Chicken Liver
• Chicken Heart
• Montmorillonite Clay
• Ground Flaxseed

The pet food brand Instinct is sometimes referred to as “The RAW brand.” It offers a selection of raw options for feeding pets meals that are high in protein and important fatty acids, never cooked to preserve as much of the food’s natural nutrients, and processed as little as possible.

With this specific chicken dish, all of the ingredients are raw and have been freeze-dried to preserve their potent nutrients without sacrificing freshness.

It is a combination of 15% non-GMO fruits and vegetables and 85% protein from a single animal source (chicken) for a full and balanced diet.

This formulation received 4.6 stars out of 5 from 47 reviewers. A lot of pet owners are pleased that this cat food offers their animals a very healthy diet without adding any artificial ingredients to make it taste good.

They also reported that since the majority of the food was used and digested by the body, their cats’ bowel motions have significantly decreased in size and are no longer smelly.

4. Orijen Original Cat

First 5 Ingredients:

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Whole Mackerel
• Turkey Giblets (Liver, Heart, Gizzard)
• Flounder

A firm called Orijen specializes in creating pet food where the first five ingredients are either raw or freshly produced.

Its main goal is to feed cats the way nature intended in order to help them realize their full biological potential. The company’s diets use WholePrey animal products to provide a meal that is suitable for a given biological stage.

The mix of fresh or raw free-range turkey and chicken, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs in this adult cat kibble is healthful and high in meat.

Prebiotics (for a healthy digestive system) and fresh produce make up the remaining 10% of the dry food meal, which is composed entirely of animal products. For added taste, freeze-dried liver is also coated on it.

4.6 stars out of 5 is an excellent rating, especially considering that there are almost 900 reviews.

This dry cat chow is “picky cat approved,” according to several pet owners, and what’s even better is that these cats’ fur has become softer and healthier as a result of going on the diet.

According to a recent review by a cat parent, the poop of his kittens smells better than it did previously.

5. Applaws Tuna Fillet with Crab in Broth

All Ingredients:

• Tuna
• Fish Broth
• Rice
• Crab

Applaws is a pet food company that prides itself on using only natural ingredients in its cat food recipes to maintain your cat in top shape.

This tiny business sources its ingredients with the greatest ethical standards in mind, using whole, simple foods to give tremendous nourishment. It never utilizes cheap fillers—only the best cuts of meat are used.

This Applaws recipe is a nutritious, additive-free diet that only includes what is absolutely required to provide your cat with the best possible health.

Given that cats are naturally carnivorous, the dish mostly depends on tuna and crab to provide your cat with the protein he needs.

The rice offers a healthy dose of carbs that are ideal for those with sensitive stomachs, while the fish broth adds moisture and improves flavor.

We chose this as our option for the best wet cat food for smelly poop because of its all-five star rating on Chewy.com, despite the fact that there are still not many reviews to be found there.

All of the customers concur that this wet cat chow is extremely nutritious and composed of high-quality ingredients. When Applaws are offered, even picky eaters like cats rapidly consume their food.

6. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Formula

First 5 Ingredients:

• Chicken Meal
• Peas
• Sweet Potatoes
• Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
• Pea Protein

Cats and ancient felines still have DNA in common, as demonstrated by modern science. Taste of the Wild is a pet food company that uses special protein sources from your pet’s ancestral diet to create delectable, reasonably priced cat food that is inspired by the diet that cats were supposed to eat.

Rocky Mountain’s dry cat food recipe, made without grains and with innovative proteins, provides your cat with the easily digested energy he needs for his everyday adventures.

The diet gives cats a lot of protein for building muscle by using a variety of meats, including chicken meal, roasted venison, smoked salmon, and ocean fish meal.

This dry food recipe has received an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 based on 1070 reviews. Numerous

Customers are happy that Rocky Mountain immediately adapted to their cats, even the pickiest ones.

It has also been noted that the dry cat food helps cats with IBS, significantly lowering the frequency of vomiting and diarrhea.

FQRs

In conclusion, variables like nutritional balance, ingredient transparency, and dietary quality must be taken into account while choosing the finest cat food for smelly poop. You may help relieve smelly poop and support your cat’s overall digestive health by selecting a premium cat food that is suited to their needs and putting additional management techniques into practice.

the Best Cat Food for Smelly Poop