Cat + Bath Towel = Smelly Cat

Sophie loves the bathroom...she has toys in there, and access to a sink and a tub where she can play in water puddles (we have learned to keep the toilet lid down!!). Lately though, she's been on a towel kick, and I can't imagine what the deal is!

Our bathroom doesn't have the best ventilation...there is no fan, it's way too cold to open the window, and I keep the door closed most of the time because otherwise, Soph goes in there at the most inopportune moments and hides behind the toilet. Unfortunately, this lack of ventilation often means that used towels don't dry properly, even if hung up neatly, and have to be washed constantly, because they develop that "musty water" smell, from not drying completely/quickly enough.

You all know that smell - it's not a pleasant one. Well, Sophie-Ann LOVES it.

She usually spends some time in the bathroom every few days, because it's a good place to put her to keep her out from underfoot while I vacuum, clean the litter box, etc. Lately, each time I go into the room to retrieve her, she has pulled the most rank, disgusting towel she can find off the towel rod and spread it on the floor, and is rolling around in it and rubbing herself on it. I end up with a cat that smells like a dirty dishrag.

I'm not worried about the towel, obviously - they're destined for the laundry, just hanging up until they're dry so they don't 'pollute' the rest of the contents of my hamper. And I can keep Miss Kitty from getting all smelly by just removing the towels BEFORE I enclose her in the bathroom.

What's driving me crazy -and I've been unable to find any info on this - is WHY on earth they do this in the first place?? I have a few friends with cats, and one of them indicates that his cat does the same thing...his little furball will go as far as dragging a dirty towel into his bed to make a nest out of (ewwww). Has anyone ever heard of this, and/or have any insight into why our normally-fastidious felines might enjoy smelling like a wet gym sock?

Yuck! I don't know what the answer is, but I'm going to stay tuned to see what others might have to say about it.

Genever doesn't bother with towels or anything like that, but she does roll around in the litterbox! Then of course she wants to be all friendly and cuddly. Umm.. no! Get your dusty dirtiness away from me til after you clean up a bit!!

Her first bath was the result of rolling around in the box, must've been right after peeing because she just stank like pee all over. In the tub she went. (and out and in and out and in, til I finally got it done with. i was not good at keeping her in the tub for more than a few seconds at a time. )

My cat is not doing it.

Maybe rubbing their body on your towel makes them feel warm

If you find the answer, you could probably make a mint off the knowledge! Most likely, it's because it smells like you.

We have no fan in our bathrooms and our towels weren't drying well, so I purchased a small fan at Wal-Mart and run it in the bathroom after I finish my shower for about 30 minutes or so. I'm usually getting ready for work or to leave, so I turn it off before I leave. This has helped our towels not get that musty moldy smell. You might try it.

We have to deal with the mouldy towel smell here as well due to lack of a fan however we can not keep our bathroom door open because of very destructive kitties.

First of all, as mere humans, it is not for us to ask WHY a cat does anything such as roll in musty towels , the answer is she does it because she wants to.

However I would not like a musty smelling cat curling up on my face at night.

Is there anywhere else the towels can be hung to dry, besides the bathroom? I was thinking you can get one of those wooden drying racks, and hang your towels on that after bathing, in a room that has a heater and better ventialtion. My bathroom doesn't have a fan either (I wouldn't use it, if it did, I can't stand that kind of noise) and I keep my bathroom door closed, but I have a small baseboard heater under the towel bar.

However, in summer, I don't have a musty towel problem either. Hmm.....I wonder why your towels are getting mustly like that? You must use really thick heavy towels. I don't like thick heavy towels, I like the thin kind.

Perhaps you should use thinner towels that dry more quickly?

Or, if you have a clothes dryer, rather than hang the towels, just toss them directly in the dryer for a few minutes before hanging them on the towel bar?

I hang mine in my bedroom and it doesn't smell awful

Originally Posted by otto

First of all, as mere humans, it is not for us to ask WHY a cat does anything such as roll in musty towels

, the answer is she does it because she wants to.

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You know, every time I post here with a question, I tell myself this very thing even as I hit the "Submit Post" button...I think I'm too used to dogs, who are more predictable and understandable. These little "cat things" just have me mystified! But really, I guess that's half the fun of having a cat.

At this point, I might just start taking the towels straight to the dryer. It's two floors down (what I wouldn't give for a laundry room on the main floors!) and I'm as lazy as can be, but at this point I'd rather dry them in the dryer and be able to use them a few times, than run up the water bill by washing them so often (and with laundry being my absolute LEAST favorite household chore, that would make me very happy!).

In the meantime, a "warning" to all...if your cat suddenly starts walking around smelling like "Eau de Moldy"...hide the towels!! Apparently the scent is all the rage!

Obviously she's trying to disguise her scent so she can hunt better.

Its all instinct, same reason dogs find disgusting things to roll in.

My cat loves a good, originally stinky dish towel, fresh out of the washer and dryer. I suppose he might like an unlaundered dish towel but never opted to give him one. So glad he is satisfied with the clean ones.