Removing the smell of cat pee is usually a lengthy and demanding process. This is because cat urine has a way of sticking to fabrics and even sprayed items. However, we cannot live in a house stinking of cat urine as it is unhealthy.
Furthermore, when your house is smelling of cat urine, your cat will hardly stop peeing all over. We are going to look at cat spray odor removal as well as proven methods to stop cats from spraying completely.
Before we proceed, it is important to understand spraying as a feline behavior. spraying is common and also natural for cats. However, in order to enhance the domestication of cats, there is a need to control this behavior.
To begin with, there is no way you are going to be comfortable with your kitty peeing on your bed, couch, and even carpet. Unfortunately, this can happen unexpectedly and therefore you will require methods to stop your cat from this habit as well as remove the smell from fabrics. This article is going to guide you through it all, with steps that are proven to work. But before that, we need to understand the source of this behavior. Why would your cat choose to pee on your bed when you have spent so much time litter training her?
Cat spray odor removal: Discover effective methods to get rid of cat pee smell
This is actually the hardest part of having a spraying cat. Understanding and discovering the reason behind your cat’s behavior is the easy part. However, do not give up yet as this article will help you eliminate the smell as well as prevent future incidences. Below are some of the tips that you can use to completely remove cat pee odor from the house;
Stop your cat from spraying
This is the very first and most effective step you should take when looking to remove the cat pee smell from your house. Luckily for you, behavior modification has been known to help curb behaviors in cats. Therefore, you will have to start from the source of this issue. Why is your cat soiling the house? You will find these reasons in the first section of this article.
So, the method you use in order to stop your cat from spraying will depend on the cause. So we are going to discuss how to curb spraying resulting from various causes.
Examine and treat stress in your cat
Cats, as we have repeatedly said, are sensitive creatures. This makes them very prone to anxiety, stress, and other emotional disorders. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to her emotional wellbeing at all times.
Ensure that your cats are not lonely. It is understandable that you cannot spend every minute of your life with your kitty. However, your absence is likely to bring about undesirable behaviors such as spraying and peeing out of the litter box. Therefore, it is important to keep your cat occupied with toys and other activities if you are going to be away from your home.
These activities could include exciting toys that will be stimulating enough to keep her occupied. In addition, your TV could also be of great help. Cats enjoy watching people or other animals do things. Leave the TV on in order to keep her busy. It is much better than leaving your curtains open for her to watch the happenings on the outside.
In addition to this, if you have several cats, make sure they have enough resources to go by. This will reduce the stress that can be a result of the stiff competition of resources at home.
Play with your cat more often
As we had mentioned, loneliness can actually make your cat pee inappropriately. This not only leaves your house smelling of pee but it can also destroy your items. For instance, it is quite difficult to remove cat spray odor from fabrics and carpets. It can linger for months, which can even motivate your cat to keep spraying.
Now, playing with your cat is not going to exactly stop your cat from spraying. However, it is the foundation from which your cat feels safe and connected to you. Once your cat feels threatened, or lonely, she is going to react. Usually, this is through spraying your favorite items.
Therefore, you should consider spending more time with your cat. This way, not only will you be reassuring her that she is safe and you are always there. When your cat is confident that she is safe, she is not likely to experience any form of anxiety. In addition to this, your cat is going to form a strong bond with you when you are playing.
Add more litter boxes
It could also be possible for your cat to be peeing all over because there are only a few litter boxes. This is especially important if you are running a multi-cat household. When you have only a few litter boxes, it means that your cats are competing to use them. Furthermore, it is going to be very difficult for you to keep them clean since your cats will have different elimination patterns.
Therefore, if you notice that your cats are struggling with the litter boxes, consider adding a few more. This will give them more options and minimize the chances of spraying. In addition to this, it is also important to make sure that the litter boxes are clean. Always scoop the soiled litter in order to encourage your cat to use the boxes.
Where you place the litter boxes will also count when you are having a cat with litter box issues. Make sure that your cat can easily access the litter boxes. At the same time ensure that your cat gets the privacy she deserves when eliminating. Therefore, place the boxes in private areas of the house with minimum human traffic.
Spay/Neuter your cat
If your cat is spraying when she is in heat, it is time to get her spayed. This is because it is going to be a repetitive behavior, every time she is in heat. Unless you want your cat to reproduce, it is advisable to spay your cat early enough.
However, do not take your cat for spaying when she is in heat. We recommend that you see a vet and get her spayed safely. Going on with the process when your cat is still in heat may lead to excessive bleeding. Therefore, do it when she is all calm in order to avoid health complications.
A spayed cat will not only stop urine marking but also anxiety. This is because your cat will be less hostile towards people and even situations.
Wash the sprayed spot
This is the second thing you should do. It is important to wash the urine from the sprayed surfaces. However, this is not exactly an easy thing to do. In fact, most cat owners usually come to me when they have tried to wash the urine from their items.
Before considering getting the cleaning agents to use, make sure you have removed all the urine from the surface. This is especially when you are trying to remove the smell from a couch or mattress. This is because the mattress will absorb the urine, making the smell go further. Use paper towels to remove the excess urine and drain as much of it as you can before you begin the washing process.
As mentioned earlier, it is going to be a lengthy process but it actually works. We are going to discuss some of the cat spray odor removal home remedies below;
Home remedy for cat spray odor removal
Once you manage to stop your cat from spraying inappropriately, it is time to remove the odor. After all, the smell of cat pee is likely to prompt your cat to keep doing it anyway. The process of cat spray removal is nowhere near easy.
Luckily for you, you may not need to leave your house in an effort to eliminate the foul smell of urine from your house. You just might have the necessary ingredients for a home remedy for cat spray odor removal.
Below are some of the remedies you can simply make at home:
Laundry detergents containing enzymes
Most laundry detergents will often have enzymes, which equates them to the enzymatic cleaners for removing the cat pee smell. However, it is important that you avoid using any products with bleaching agents or ammonia.
To use this method, mix two spoonfuls of laundry detergent with about a liter of water. Use the solution to wash the sprayed spot on your couch, mattress, or even carpet. You should be careful as this solution might bleach your fabrics.
This solution will work because the enzymes in the cleaners will help break down the cat urine crystals in the fabrics. This will also eliminate cat pee odor from the sprayed surface.
Water with vinegar
Cats detest the smell of vinegar. In fact, your cat will stay away from anything with vinegar. This makes it a great product to use when you want to restrict your cat from a certain place. However, not only is vinegar a cat repellent product but it is also an amazing cleaning agent. By using vinegar to clean sprayed surfaces, you will be killing two birds with one stone.
In order to use this method, you should mix water and vinegar, in equal amounts. Then use the solution to clean the sprayed surface.
In the case where you are trying to get the smell of cat pee from your couch, do not pour the water on the couch. Instead, you may use a spray bottle to spray the solution on the soiled surface. Repeat this method for a few days until the smell is all gone.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a common product, probably in your cupboard. The product has odor-absorbing properties. This home remedy for cat spray odor removal works better after you have washed the soiled spot.
For instance, once you are done washing the spot, sprinkle a relative amount of baking soda on the wet spot and leave it for a few minutes. Baking soda will help remove the cat pee smell from your house. In addition to this, repeat the method every time you wash the surface.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is also an excellent cleaning agent. However, you should be cautious as this product can possibly discolor your fabrics. Before applying this method, you should perform a test on a smaller portion of the sprayed spot.
To use this method to get rid of the cat spray, pour a few drops of hydrogen peroxide on the wet, sprayed place. This will help you deodorize the spot with the product.
Why do cats pee in the house?
This is an actual problem amongst cat owners. This is because as much as we have invested in feline behavior research, cats will pee inappropriately at some point in life. You should take some time therefore and focus on your cat once she starts spraying. This way, the following tips will help you identify the cause for your cat’s disgusting behavior;
Stress and anxiety
most often we forget about our pet’s emotional wellbeing. You should understand that cats are vulnerable to stress or anxiety whenever exposed to certain living conditions. A great example of such a situation might be changing her lifestyle or even leaving her alone for long periods of time. In addition to this, the presence of a stranger in your home could possibly make your cat anxious. A stressed cat will often spray the owner’s bed or favorite items in the house. She might also want to isolate herself from people and situations.
Natural behavior
As we had mentioned earlier, sometimes cats will pee because that is their natural behavior. For instance, when a cat is in heat, there is barely anything you can do to make her stop. Instead, you will have to wait it out, until she is back to normal. Other cats actually pee in the house because they can and they feel like it. In other words, some cats do so because it is in their genes.
Medical reasons
In some cases, your cat might be spraying urine all over because she is ill. Infections that are associated with cat spraying will include UTIs, Crystalluria, Idiopathic cystitis, or bladder stones. spraying will also be accompanied by other symptoms like difficulty or pain when passing urine.
In severe cases, some cats may not be able to pass urine at all due to the blockage of the urinary tract. Therefore, it is very important to observe your kitty for the above-stated symptoms. In case she has any of these signs, take her to the vet for a check-up.
Urine Marking In Cats
urine marking is a survival necessity for your cat. As much as we have domesticated our cats since centuries ago, this is a behavior that we cannot entirely curb. Let me explain to you why
In the wild, cats survive by protecting themselves from harm. Any intruder in their place is considered dangerous by the family. In efforts to send them away, cats would spray urine in efforts to mark their territory. This way, your cat is sending a message to the intruder to stay away and that they are not welcome.
Now, the instinct is to protect and mark territories that do not go away even after domestication. Therefore, your cat might be peeing all over in an effort to mark his territory.
Boredom and loneliness
Once again, domestication has made it quite easy to co-exist with our cats. This is because we have discovered ways in which we can meet our cat’s needs. However, we often forget about our cats when we go out of the house. Be it work or running your errands, your cat is definitely going to realize that you have already left the house. This can open up a gate to her worst fears of being lonely.
Well, if she has nothing else to do when you are away, she will definitely miss you. When this happens, your cat will spray your items in an effort to connect with you. Therefore we really cannot blame our cats for what they do. However, we can definitely be able to control their behaviors.
In the next section, we are going to look at the aftermath of cat spraying. The first step towards cat spray odor removal is to understand the reason for the initial behavior. Now that your house is soiled, maybe she peed on your carpet, couch, or even your bed, what can you do?
Conclusion
If you are currently dealing with cat spraying right now, do not be discouraged as you are not alone. Many cat owners struggle with this repetitive behavior, with some giving up their kitties to shelter. However, you may not need to do so as you can be able to stop your cat from spraying.
I understand that getting rid of the cat pee odor can be a little challenging. However, with the above cat spray odor removal home remedies, you can be able to do so. In addition to that, you can take advantage of solar energy from the sun. Once you have finished washing the mattress or cushion, take it outside to dry in the sun.
In conclusion, the ultimate solution to remove cat pee odor is to completely stop cat spraying. We have discussed some of the reasons why cats spray. You will only have to identify why she is doing so and approach behavior correction from that angle.
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