Expert: Jessica - 8/30/2009

Question
I have Two Female Cats about 15 months old. I've noticed a very strong Ammonia smell even the day after changing (tidycat) 1.Does that mean that one has a urinary infection ?  2.If so what should I do? and 3. Can I keep that from happening by using  a better food. I have been buying (Purina Cat chow once they hit one year).What would be a food you would recommend


Answer
Hi Brian.  You are correct to assume an ammonia smell in fresh urine may indicate a urinary tract infection.  Bacteria cause urea molecules, normally present in urine, to split into ammonia.  Most often, cats with urinary tract infections will show signs of frequency or straining in the litter box, but this is not always noticeable.  Potentially, liver problems are also a cause, because the liver is responsible for converting ammonia into urea, but liver problems tend to be uncommon in young cats.  Dehydration may also cause the urine to smell like ammonia.

You should get whichever kitty that is producing the urine odor to the vet.  You may want to separate the cats, each with their own litter box, and see which is producing the ammonia odor.  Then, get that cat to the vet right away.

I will be completely honest with you, and this will sound like a tall tale.  But I switched from a grain-free food to Purina Cat Chow several months ago for financial reasons, and my cats have had constant urinary tract infections since.  In the last 2 weeks, three cats came down with them.  One cat’s urethra became blocked with blood clots that formed from the irritation, and he had to be surgically unblocked and hospitalized for 4 days.  He blocked again and had to be surgically unblocked once more, with a bill totaling $1700.  This food has a lot of carbohydrates, which naturally raise urinary pH.  A high urinary pH produces a friendly atmosphere for bacteria, and hence allows urinary tract infections to set in more easily.  The amount I saved on food was not nearly as much as I just spent this week unblocking my kitty.  I will be switching back to my grain-free food.  If this is a urinary tract infection, you may want to consider switching to a higher quality food, too.  Something with high protein will encourage a lower urinary pH, and therefore, discourage urinary tract infections.  

If both cats seem to be producing the odor once they’re separated, or the cat who’s producing the odor comes back from the vet as completely healthy, you may want to consider switching your litter.  I think I’ve tried everything on the market, from plain clay litter all the way to silica litter pearls.  The one that I have found to be most acceptable to the cats and to control ammonia smell the best is Feline Pine Scoop.  The original pellet version is also excellent at controlling odor, but not all cats will use it.

Also, urine can smell like ammonia on hot days if left standing for too long.  The heat allows bacteria to flourish and convert urea to ammonia, so litter should be changed daily if you use plain clay litter, or scooped daily if you use clumping litter.  And plastic can absorb the ammonia smell over time, so boxes should be thrown out and replaced if you can still detect an odor after they have been cleaned with bleach.  Note – always rinse boxes with water before adding bleach.  The mix of ammonia from urine and bleach is a bad thing!

I hope all goes well!

Jessica