The 6 Best Cat Foods For Smelly Poop
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. Learn More
The best cat foods for smelly poop are low-waste products that support digestive health. They’re rich in bioavailable protein and don’t contain any fillers or irritating ingredients. That’s why we recommend Stella & Chewy’s Chick Chick Chicken Dinner. It’s a freeze-dried food made from ultra-digestible animal protein and fortified with probiotics to support a healthy gut.
Quick Navigation
At a Glance: Best Cat Foods For Smelly Poop To Buy
We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Compare Best Cat Food For Smelly Poop
|
Overall Best
1. Stella & Chewy's Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food |
Best For Food Sensitivities
4. Vital Essentials Rabbit Mini Patties Grain Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food |
Best Dry
6. Dr. Elsey's cleanprotein Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food |
|||
|
Protein
45% Min |
Protein
7% Min |
Protein
45% Min |
Protein
52% Min |
Protein
11% Min |
Protein
59% Min |
|
Fat
25% Min |
Fat
6% Min |
Fat
20% Min |
Fat
15% Min |
Fat
9.0% Min |
Fat
18% Min |
|
Fiber
5.0% Max |
Fiber
2% Max |
Fiber
3% Max |
Fiber
3.0% Max |
Fiber
1.5% Max |
Fiber
4.0% Max |
|
Life Stage
Adult |
Life Stage
Maintenance |
Life Stage
Adult |
Life Stage
Adult |
Life Stage
Adult |
Life Stage
Adult |
|
Type
Freeze-Dried/Raw |
Type
Wet |
Type
Freeze-Dried |
Type
Freeze-Dried |
Type
Wet/Canned |
Type
Dry |
|
Made In
United States |
Made In
Canada |
Made In
United States |
Made In
United States |
Made In
United States |
Made In
United States |
Here’s What We Look For In The Best Cat Foods For Smelly Poop.
While diet can help, changing your cat’s food isn’t always the answer.
Ultra-odoriferous waste can stem from anything from bacterial imbalance to parasites to the fact that some people are unusually sensitive to smells. We’ll go into more depth on the other things that can cause abnormal fecal smell later—just bear that in mind while we discuss how the right food can help.
Fortunately, the best cat food for smelly poop is a good option for any cat, regardless of the end goal for the litter box. As it turns out, choosing food to make your cat’s waste better is about the same as choosing food for any other digestive issue.
Think clean.
Clean food digests efficiently with minimal waste. Of course, there’s still going to be some waste regardless of how you feed your cat, but you can keep it minimal by feeding your cat an efficient diet.
Feed Your Cat What His Body Is Best-equipped To Digest.
By feeding your cat a high-quality, optimally-digestible diet that is efficiently utilized by the body, you can cut back on overall waste output and odors.
As carnivores, cats are efficient animal processing plants, utilizing almost every part of their prey. A whole mouse provides a full array of essential amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and even fermentable hair, skin, and nails to support healthy digestion.
Cat guardians frequently report smaller, less smelly stools after converting to raw, meat-based food. This diet is optimally suited to the feline digestive system.
Remember—you’re Not Just Feeding Your Cat. You’re Feeding His Intestinal Microbiota.
Though the feline gut microbiome isn’t fully understood, we do know that what your cat eats influences the demographics of his gut microbial population. The idea here is to feed the right gut bacteria, which can help to reduce smelly poop and support overall digestive health.
A species-appropriate diet and probiotic supplementation can help to maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria.
Avoid Allergenic Or Irritating Ingredients.
An unusually reeky litter box could mean that your cat is allergic or has an intolerance to something in his diet. The most common food allergens are the ingredients cats eat most often—chicken, beef, fish, and dairy ingredients top the list.
True food allergies are rare among cats, but if you suspect that your cat is sensitive to something he’s been eating, try switching to a limited ingredient diet. A simpler diet will help you identify any irritants or allergens.
Our Top Picks For The Best Cat Food For Smelly Poop
Now that you have a better understanding of how we came to our top picks, you’re probably eager to see them! Here are our top 5 picks for best cat food for smelly poop:
Stella & Chewy's Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 45% Min
- Fat: 25% Min
- Fiber: 5.0% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Freeze-Dried/Raw
- Made In: United States
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Primarily made from highly-digestible fresh muscle meat, organs, and bones
- Contains prebiotics and probiotics to support a healthy microbiome
- Free of fillers that could cause excessive waste
- Stella & Chewy’s foods tend to contain a lot of bone and might be too high in phosphorus
- Contains chicken, to which many cats are sensitive
This food isn’t quite raw—it’s been freeze-dried to kill pathogens and make it shelf-stable—but it retains the essential nutritional value and digestibility of raw muscle meat, organs, and bones. The food is supplemented with a mix of prebiotics and probiotics, which may help healthy gut bacteria to flourish.
Stella & Chewy’s food is a good option for cats with smelly poop, but it isn’t the right choice for every cat. Older cats, for example, may want to try another raw or freeze-dried food. Stella & Chewy’s foods tend to contain too much bone and excessive minerals.
Open Farm Harvest Chicken Rustic Blend Wet Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 7% Min
- Fat: 6% Min
- Fiber: 2% Max
- Life Stage: Maintenance
- Type: Wet
- Made In: Canada
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Made from high-quality, easily-digestible ingredients
- Primarily made from nourishing animal ingredients
- Species-appropriate macronutrient distribution
- Expensive
- Only available with a subscription, you can’t get just one / several portions
- Contains some fruit and vegetable ingredients
This recipe is primarily made from humanely raised chicken and chicken bone broth, all of which are protein-rich, easy-to-digest ingredients that deliver a lot of nutrition without a lot of waste.
Open Farm is available through a subscription, so you’ll enter information about your cat and select a delivery schedule when you sign up. This makes it both convenient and a little bit higher-commitment than most foods. If you’re not into the subscription model, this brand probably isn’t for you.
Smalls Freeze-Dried Raw Water Bird
Product Info
- Protein: 45% Min
- Fat: 20% Min
- Fiber: 3% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Freeze-Dried
- Made In: United States
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Freeze-dried cat food sent to your door
- High-quality natural ingredients, no additives
- Real duck is the first ingredient
- Highly digestible and full of natural flavor
- Some cats may not like the texture of freeze-dried food
- Only available by subscription – no one-time purchase
This Smalls Freeze-Dried Water Bird formula features real duck as the main ingredient, so you know it’s loaded with protein and natural flavor. Next comes duck heart followed by duck liver, duck gizzard, and duck eggs. It’s all blended together with goat’s milk with herring oil for essential fatty acids.
With Smalls freeze-dried cat food, you know your cat is getting the high-quality nutrition he deserves with nothing extra. That means no fillers or additives that go undigested, left to stink up the litter box. Best of all, it’s sent right to your door in regular deliveries!
Vital Essentials Rabbit Mini Patties Grain Free Limited Ingredient Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 52% Min
- Fat: 15% Min
- Fiber: 3.0% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Freeze-Dried
- Made In: United States
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Rich in ultra-digestible animal protein
- Minimal ingredient list reduces your cat’s exposure to allergens and irritants
- Features herring oil as a source of nourishing omega-3 fatty acids
- Some cats dislike the rabbit flavor
Though cats with smelly poop should generally avoid dairy, the raw goat’s milk in this recipe shouldn’t cause problems. Raw milk contains lactase. This enzyme helps to digest lactose, making the milk appropriate for lactose-intolerant cats.
Overall, this food is a good option whether your cat has food intolerances or not.
Dr. Elsey's Cleanprotein Turkey Formula Canned Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 11% Min
- Fat: 9.0% Min
- Fiber: 1.5% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Wet/Canned
- Made In: United States
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Primarily made from highly-digestible turkey muscle meat and liver
- Contains salmon oil and green-lipped mussel, sources of omega-3 fatty acids
- Low-glycemic recipe
- Contains agar-agar, which some may prefer to avoid
Like all Dr. Elsey’s foods, this product prioritizes protein quality. The food’s primarily made from highly-digestible turkey and features turkey liver and dried egg product as additional sources of species-appropriate nutrition. Unlike most of the other foods on this list, the food contains agar-agar as a thickener. Like other thickeners, it’s a soluble fiber that may increase fecal odor.
Overall, it’s a protein-rich recipe with clean ingredients that should help to improve your cat’s digestive health and reduce odors.
Dr. Elsey's cleanprotein Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 59% Min
- Fat: 18% Min
- Fiber: 4.0% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Dry
- Made In: United States
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- An excellent alternative to high-carbohydrate, high-waste kibble
- Primarily made from low-residue animal ingredients
- Contains salmon oil, a species-appropriate source of omega-3 fatty acids
- Contains flaxseed, which may increase fecal odor
- No dry food delivers the moisture your cat needs
First, this food isn’t like most kibble. While most dry food contains potatoes, corn, wheat, rice, and other starchy ingredients as binding agents, this food uses gelatin as a low-carbohydrate way to keep the kibble together.
The food is primarily made from easy-to-digest, low-residue animal ingredients, including chicken, dried egg product, and pork protein isolate.
The food contains prebiotics to feed good bacteria in your cat’s gut.
Final Thoughts
Food isn’t always the solution, especially if it isn’t the root of the problem.
Your cat’s fecal odor is influenced by what he eats, but it is also affected by his health, the population of microorganisms in his gut, the type of litter you use, and, yes, the way you perceive it.
Aside from what he eats, here are a few reasons your cat’s poop might reek more than the average cat’s.
An abnormally intense smell could be due to parasites, a bacterial infection, or a digestive disorder. If there’s a health problem involved, you’re going to notice more than a pong around the litter box. Cats with these issues will be vomiting, having diarrhea, and exhibiting other symptoms of illness. Otherwise, the problem could be a bad bathroom. You may need to start with the litter box and your cleaning skills, not with the cat.
But if diligent cleaning and good health haven’t stopped the smell, diet can help—a lot. By choosing a meaty, carnivore-appropriate diet that boosts good gut bacteria, you ensure that your cat’s waste doesn’t smell any worse than it has to.
