So I recently took in a friend’s kitten. She is practically perfect in every way, alternating between playful and cuddly, content to be picked up and adored by anyone she comes in contact with. There’s only one problem. Despite her small size, the kitten is capable of emitting a powerful stench, the sort of stink that could drive a strong man to his knees. If this were an occasional thing, it would not be so bad, but it happens with rather alarming frequency, and more often than not while she is being cuddled and loved. Without warning, without even a sound, she emits the deadly gas, then continues to purr as if nothing were happening. She herself appears to be in no distress at all - her belly is rather chubby, but doesn’t seem swollen, and you can rub it without losing your hands (which is rare for a cat).
So what’s up with this gas? I’m feeding her kitten chow, but we also have adult cats in the house, as well as a dog, and it’s difficult to keep her out of their food. Could this be the culprit? Or is there something more sinister involved? Is there anything I can do, or shall I simply have to learn to live with her stinkiness?
It does sound like a diet issue. Try feeding the adult cats and the kitten in different rooms, at the same time. Take up their food when they’re not being fed. You might also try different brands of kitten food.
Diet and digestive system malfunction probably account for 99% of the problems with gas for all animals. e.g. cows have a huge methane output for their size.
We had a similar problem with a kitten. The vet told us it was not uncommon at around kitty puberty. The symptom mostly went away after puberty was prevented, as it were.
In any case, you’re probably going to be taking said kit to the vet for routine immunization or operation in the not too distant future anyway; just ask then. Or call up and ask.
One thing-I don’t know if this kitty is getting it, but never feed cats or kittens milk. Contrary to popular belief, cats cannot digest it properly, and it gives them diarrhea.
My cat (Thomas) has a serious gas problem when we got him. Thomas was a six month old stray when my husband and I adapted him. He was at DH’s place of work being fed cheap adult cat food (I think it was Alley Cat). I took him home in my car and had to open the windows because of the smell. The next day we took Thomas to the vet to get shots and arrange for him to be fixed. At the end of the appointmnet the cat let loose a silent but very deadly fart. The vet said that Thomas had an amoeba infestation in his intestines from unclean water and most strays had this problem. She gave use some medicine and the gas attacks stopped. He was still eating the cheap food during this time.
If changing the food does not work a vet visit may be your best bet.
If it’s any consolation, due to some porridge this morning, I now have gas, which my cat has just learned to his distress by virtue of his hopping up onto my tummy.
Care to tell that to my milk-drinking, ice-cream-loving, non-diarrhea having 6 year old cat?
Now, my other cat couldn’t drink milk unless we wanted it on the carpet in an hour in a slightly more curdled shape, but it’s hardly a universal condition.
The 9th Earl Cochrane developed a process for the production of coal tar for use in tarring ship’s hulls. The navy ignored him, so he didn’t make any money at it. A by product of the process was coal gas, which he simply vented off and burned. It never occurred to him to use it for street lighting. Other persons did, and made fortunes. The Earl didn’t see the forest for the trees.
So here you are, in a region very close to the great blackout of ‘03, with a self-propelled co-gen energy source that only requires bowl of chow and a tummy rub. Don’t waste your time with changes in feed; just figure out a way to connect the little guy to the power grid.
