Why does my cat smell bad if cats groom themselves?

A healthy cat shouldn’t have much odor, so a bad smell is usually a clue. Common sources are dental disease and infected gums, which make the breath foul, a greasy or infected coat in a cat who can’t groom well, ear infections, or stool stuck in the fur of a long-haired cat. Because the cause sits somewhere specific, sniff around to locate it: mouth, rear, ears or coat. A genuinely smelly cat is rarely just dirty. It’s usually a sign of something a vet should look at.

When to call a vet: Persistent bad odor, especially from the mouth or ears, points to dental disease or infection and should be checked by a vet.