A good cat urine remover should not only clean the mess, but should also deodorize and be safe for the cat,owner and entire household.
Cats are clean pets, however on occasion accidents will happen. Removing cat urine is not as easy as cleaning a simple stain on the carpet. Owners have to ensure that the cleaner they use will not only remove the unsightly mess and smell, but also will aid in preventing the cat from urinating in that spot again.
Observe Your Cat
Cats, as mentioned above, are clean animals. Once properly trained, they infrequently potty outside of the litter box. If, out of the blue, the owner notices the cat urinating away from the litter box, there could be a few simple explanations for this. First, a check of the litter box is in order. A dirty box will make the cat want to do its business elsewhere. The solution here is to simply clean the box.
Another common reason for cats to urinate away from their box is stress. A cat can get frightened by other animals in the household or immediate surroundings, inducing it to potty on the spot. Separation of the cat from these stressful stimuli, will aid in cutting down on accidents. It may also be a good idea to have the cat checked with a veterinarian, if the urination problem continues in order to rule out potential serious medical problems.
Cleaning Products
A cat urine remover should not be an all-purpose cleaner with ammonia. Cat urine consists mainly of ammonia. Any product with ammonia will leave a trace of it on the spot cleaned. The cat will smell the traces of ammonia left by the cleaner, which will most likely induce it to urinate on the same spot again.
Cleaners with fragrances should be avoided. The fragrance will mask the odor temporarily. This will not enable the owner to know if the odor of the cat urine was removed completely, until later on when the smell of the fragrance wanes. Cleaners should also be non-toxic to the home, easy to use and not overly expensive. A guarantee form the manufacturer would be a plus as well.
Urine Removal
If a commercial cat urine remover isn’t readily available, the owner can attempt to remove the urine himself in a few simple steps. If the urine hasn’t dried, dry paper towels should be applied over the spot. Light pressure should be applied. For dry stains, a black fluorescent light can detect the stains, when the light is turned off. The dry stains will need to be dampened, then blotted dry before the next step.
Next, a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts water should be rubbed into the soiled area with a white washcloth or paper towel. The area should be rinsed with water, dried with a different cloth and the vinegar/water solution should be reapplied to the area. This step can be repeated as many times as necessary. Obviously, if the smell lingers, one should consider purchasing an over the counter cat urine cleaner.
Cat urine accidents can be eliminated by ensuring a clean litter box, observing the cat’s behavior to eliminate stressful stimuli and by having a veterinarian check the cat. Cleaners shouldn’t contain ammonia, should be easy and safe to use and can be homemade if necessary. By following the above, an owner can remove the stress they feel, when cleaning cat urine accidents.
References
Mirmura,Shari. How to Eliminate Your Cat Urination Problems
