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Why is my cat licking, losing fur, and smells fishy all of a sudden?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 1 year and 8 months old | 5 lbs

My cat is 1.5 yrs old. Her breath smells like sardines. So her fur does as well. But this comes and goes. Last time she had this issue a few days ago I gave her a bath and the next day it was gone. Now it's back. I give her dental treats. What is causing this issue? She also has been losing fur on her back end and constantly licking and biting herself.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jenny, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 23rd, 2018

The odor may be a sign there is a skin infection from all the licking and biting. This can be due to an allergy either from fleas, food or something in the environment. Fleas are impossible to find on cats so it is best to just make sure she is on prevention. You can change to a hypoallergenic diet for food allergies. As far as environmental allergies, they are impossible to control, so I would have your vet check her to clear the infection if needed and see what medications can be given to help with the allergies.

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    Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Bad smelling odors like this often indicate infection. The fact that the smell got better with a washing helps support suspicion. It appears to be two different problems though - she likely has some degree of dental disease and also has signs of a skin infection/inflammation. She appears to have very itchy skin, which is causing her to lick, bite and lose hair. Itchy skin is often due to one of the following things: 1) Allergies - this can happen suddenly and is usually due to an environmental (i.e pollen) cause. 2) External parasites - fleas, lice and mites can all cause intense itching. It's good to check her for fleas and get treatment if needed. 3) Over-bathing, or using the wrong product for bathing - Bathing too often can cause the skin to get dry and irritated. Cats should normally be bathed no more than once a month with a shampoo that is labeled for cats. If you bathe more than that, or use a shampoo, soap, or other product that is meant for people, then you could be damaging the normal protective barrier of the skin. One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store. I hope this helps you to identify the problem. If not, then it would be worth taking her to the vet. We can usually discover the cause quickly and provide the most effective treatment. Below are some links to short articles that should be helpful. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-things-every-cat-owner-should-know-about-dental-care/ I hope that helps and Nestle gets better soon.

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