When you have cats, it’s not uncommon for the litter box to occasionally start stinking up the house. It’s your cat’s bathroom, after all. Sometimes, though, you might notice your house beginning to smell distinctly like ammonia. That would be due to your cat’s urine.
But why does it smell like that, and is it normal? It is normal to an extent for your cat’s urine to smell a bit like ammonia, so if you only smell a little, don’t worry. However, if the odor is really strong, it’s less normal—and there are several reasons why the ammonia smell could be more pungent than usual.
Why Does Cat Urine Smell Like Ammonia?
Cat urine typically doesn’t smell like much since it mainly consists of water, much like our own. Other than water, urine is made up of uric acid, urea, sodium chloride, creatine, detoxified substances, and electrolytes. Urine left to sit will eventually have bacterium start breaking down the urea, which releases the ammonia odor.
It’s rare to get that strong ammonia scent if your cat is using the litter box like usual because the litter will cover the odor. Typically, you wouldn’t notice this smell unless your cat was marking territory around the house. However, there are a few reasons your cat’s urine could smell more like ammonia than usual, even when it’s in the litter box.
The 5 Reasons Your Cat’s Urine Smells Like Ammonia
Below are some of the reasons, other than not using the litter box, that your cat’s urine could be giving off a more pungent ammonia odor than it typically does.
1. Dehydration
Cats aren’t always fans of drinking water. It’s suspected this is because of their history as predators who got most of their moisture from their prey, but today’s cat usually isn’t out hunting. So, if your pet isn’t drinking enough or getting enough water from wet food, it could easily become dehydrated. They could also be suffering from an underlying illness that’s making them dehydrated. And because dehydration means less water in the urine and more concentrated waste, it can make the ammonia smell of their urine stronger.
2. Inadequate Diet
As a cat owner, you’re aware that cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need meat to thrive. Cats also require a lot of protein in their diets, which they get from this meat. One of the reasons protein is so vital to cats is because of the amino acids it contains—deficiencies in the amino acids can lead to health problems for your pet. In fact, one amino acid in particular—arginine—is essential in getting rid of ammonia from your cat’s body. So, if they aren’t eating enough protein and have an arginine deficiency, their urine could smell more like ammonia than it typically does (and they might end up with a toxic amount of ammonia in their blood).
3. Hormones
If you have a male kitty who’s not been neutered, it will emit some powerful and pungent hormones when it goes to the bathroom that makes urine reek. This is done to mark their territory—it’s a message to other males to stay away and an invitation to any females in the area.
4. Urinary Tract Infection
If your kitty is dealing with a urinary tract infection, chances are good they’ll be using the bathroom outside the litter box, leading to some stinky urine odors. The stronger ammonia smell could also be because of the bacteria that are present and causing the infection. Other signs your cat could have a urinary tract infection include going to the bathroom frequently, having trouble urinating, and having blood in the urine.
5. Illness
It’s not just urinary tract infections that can cause urine to smell worse; other illnesses can do the same. One example is proteinuria, where excess protein builds up in your cat’s urine. And if you have an older cat, they could be having issues with their kidneys, as kidneys stop functioning as well with age, which can also lead to more potent urine odors.
Final Thoughts
It’s normal for your cat’s urine to smell a bit like ammonia, but it shouldn’t usually smell too much like it. Most of the time, you shouldn’t notice a smell (unless your pet has decided not to use the litter box). If you are smelling a strong ammonia odor, there are several reasons that could be, including issues with your kitty’s food and drink, illness, infections, and hormones. You can easily change your cat’s diet and encourage them to drink more water. You can also fix hormone issues by neutering your cat. As for the rest, it’s advised you take your pet to the vet, so they can figure out the exact cause of the increased smell of ammonia and remedy the situation.
Featured Image Credit: lev.studio, Shutterstock
