Cats may be cute, furry, and great companions, but they can also be responsible for making terrible messes. These messes can leave stains and lingering odors if not properly cared for. But, with a few simple tricks, these messes don’t have to last a lifetime in your carpet or on your furniture.
Cleaning Cat Urine
Cat urine is particularly stinky and it gets worse the longer it sits. This is because bacteria begin feeding on the organic waste in the urine, which converts it to gases. In addition, the longer the urine sits, the more it seeps into the carpet and the underlying pattern or wood floor beneath. This, of course, makes it more difficult to remove.
Fresh urine should be cleaned by first blotting it. To blot urine, an old bath towel should be used to soak up as much liquid as possible. This should be followed up by using paper towels until no more moisture can be seen. The area should then be diluted by spraying heavily with clear water or with a solution of mild white vinegar and water. Afterward, the area should be blotted again. This process should be repeated until the area is sufficiently cleaned.
In some cases, the area will also need to be neutralized. This is particularly true if the odor remains after the carpeting has dried. To accomplish this, chemical odor removers need to be used. Some odor removers are also based on enzymes or both bacteria and enzymes. All of these neutralizers, however, are designed to neutralize odor by eating the bacteria causing the odor.
For old urine stains, a neutralizer is likely to be a necessity because the bacterial process will have already started. Carpets and padding may need to be removed and cleaned, or even replaced, if the urine has been allowed to sink through. If the scent of cat urine lingers, but the source cannot be found, a black light can be of assistance. A black light will illuminate cat urine and make it easier to locate for cleaning.
As a final note, if a cat is urinating outside of its litter box it is a good idea to have the vet take a look at the cat. This behavior is not normal for a cat and it could mean the cat is suffering from a urinary tract infection or other illness.
Taking Care of Cat Feces
Getting rid of firm cat feces is not too difficult. It can be simply picked up with a paper towel and through away. To clean up the residual mess, a small stiff-bristled brush can be used to clean the entire area with a mixture of water and mild detergent. The area should then be blotted, diluted, and blotted again.
If, however, the cat has diarrhea, there can be bacteria present in the feces. This requires a little more attention. To clean diarrhea, the area should be cleaned as much as possible with paper towels and then cleaned with a water and detergent mixture. It should then be rinsed and blotted, and followed up with a neutralizing product, such as an enzymatic cleaner.
Cleaning Cat Vomit
Cats are notorious for vomiting. For the most part, vomit stains should be treated the same as diarrhea. A cat that eats food with red dyes, however, may produce vomit that is nearly impossible to remove. If this happens, a professional may need to be called in order to remove the stain.
Preventing Cat “Spray”
A cat that sprays can be a nuisance. The scent of the spray is nearly enough to take the breath away from a pet owner. Just with urine, the best way to clean cat spray is to catch it quickly. Another method, however, is to prevent the spray in the first place. With many cats, simply spaying or neutering the cat can accomplish this. For some cats, however, this doesn’t stop the spraying. In addition, some cat owners do not want to spay or neuter their pets.
Another option for preventing spray is to use a pheromone based training product. These products mimic the pheromones found naturally in cats. When they are sprayed in the cat’s environment, the cat loses its natural impulse to mark its territory.
