4 Easy Tips for Cleaning Up Cat Messes – Part 1: Cleaning Cat Urine
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.
This is a 4 post series about cleaning up cat messes. Hey, it happens 
Part 1: 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.
- 4 Easy Tips for Cleaning Up Cat Messes – Part 2: Taking Care Of Cat Feces
- 4 Easy Tips for Cleaning Up Cat Messes – Part 3: Cleaning Cat Vomit
- 4 Easy Tips for Cleaning Up Cat Messes – Part 4: Preventing Cat Spray
- Cat Claw Care
- Cat Ailments – Watch For These Five Most Common
Filed under: cat care