What you should pay attention to
A cloth folded in a secluded corner is an ideal place for your cat to urinate. The kittens think that this way no one will find their tricks, and therefore will not punish them. Therefore, more often, pet owners are faced with the need to wash their clothes.
Before you start getting rid of an unpleasant odor, you need to know the recommendations that will help preserve the item:
- You need to take action as soon as possible after you notice the stain. If it dries too much and is absorbed into the fibers of the fabric, it will be much more difficult to wash it.
- Do not under any circumstances soak the entire item in water! So, the smell will spread over the surface of the entire material and it will be difficult to remove it. For the same reason, there is no need to try to wipe the stain with wet wipes or otherwise increase its scale. First of all, you need to remove the contamination pointwise, specifically where the cat left its “traces.”
- Do not use products containing chlorine (bleaches, bleach). In colored fabrics, this substance will cause fading; on some fabrics, light spots may even be caused by pigments. For white materials, chlorine will also be useless, because after it the item will smell stronger of urine. Ammonia acts on cat fluid in a similar way to chlorine.
A general algorithm of actions for eliminating the smell of cat urine and saving your favorite thing:
- You need to start cleaning as soon as possible. Dry the wet area of clothing with napkins or sprinkle cat litter on top - it will absorb not only the liquid, but also part of the smell. You need to use detergents when the stain is completely dry. If you start earlier, the smell will spread over the rest of the surface of the material.
- Apply the selected product according to the instructions (methods for diluting household products are further in the article, and store-bought products have recommendations on the packaging).
- Once the urine stain has been treated, you can wash the entire item. Use products without chlorine and ammonia for this purpose. It is advisable to wash several times.
Why does a cat smell of urine and what to do?
The cat itself can smell like urine, and before you understand what to do about it, you need to find out the reasons for what is happening. Normally, felines do not smell of urine, and if such an odor is present, it can be triggered by:
- urolithiasis disease;
- experienced stress (severe fright, prolonged stay without owners or in someone else’s apartment);
- unbalanced diet;
- old age (age-related changes in the body);
- period of puberty of the animal;
- diabetes;
- progression of the malignant process.
It is possible to rid a cat of the unpleasant odor only by carrying out therapy for a detected disease or castration if there are no plans to produce offspring in the future. It is advisable to check the size of the tray/toilet (the cat has grown and it is uncomfortable for him to sit down - urine involuntarily gets on the fur), make sure that he does not leave puddles in unauthorized places.
Wash clothes - remove the smell
You can remove the smell of cat urine from clothes using available household products. Please note that these methods will only help if the contamination is fresh; removing old stains is best done with specialized store-bought products.
It doesn’t matter if the cleaning is carried out with household or store-bought products, it is recommended to test it on an inconspicuous area of clothing before using the substance. Some fabrics may react differently to the selected detergent. This happens rarely, but a preliminary check will not hurt.
Lemon
This method is suitable to kill the fresh smell if there is little urine. Squeezed lemon juice should be diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio, moisten a sponge in the solution and apply generously to the stain. The advantage of this method is that the cat will not want to spoil this thing anymore - whiskered cats do not like the smell of citrus fruits.
Alcohol
Used for secondary processing of items in order to create an unpleasant odor for the cat. Should be used only after the main contamination has been removed. It is not necessary to dilute, but you can do it so that the aroma is not so concentrated and disappears faster.
Baking soda
Baking soda is used along with peroxide on thick fabrics, including bags, carpets and upholstery. Can only be used on dyed fabrics, otherwise fading may occur.
2 recipes for using this household substance:
- Sprinkle baking soda in a thick layer over the stain and pour peroxide on top. Leave for 12 hours, and then rinse the residue with water.
- Mix 15 g of peroxide with 2 tablespoons of soda and liquid soap. Treat the stain, leave for 15 minutes, and then rinse with water.
In its pure form, baking soda is poured onto the stain to absorb the liquid and partially remove the odor.
Laundry soap
Suitable in most cases for clothing, shoes and various surfaces. The soap must be grated and mixed with warm water to form a soap solution. Apply to the stain for 20-30 minutes, then wash off with water. Several applications may be required.
Hydrogen peroxide
Peroxide is one of the most effective ways to eliminate cat odors, but it is also harmful to non-dyed materials. This substance works similarly to bleach, so be sure to test it on seam allowances or other inconspicuous places before using.
How to remove a stain and remove the smell if an animal has marked a pillow or blanket?
In order to remove the foul odor from a pillow or blanket, you need to prepare the following solution. For 100 g of hydrogen peroxide, take 1 tsp. soda and 1 tbsp. l. shampoo or gel detergent. Leave for an hour. After the smell disappears, you can wash the area or wash the product completely.
The professional product “OdorGone” has proven itself well among cat owners. Owners of four-legged animals claim that this spray removes odor from a blanket, pillow or carpet the first time. It must be used in accordance with the instructions.
Wash urine off the sofa
If a cat has urinated on a bed, sofa or other furniture, it is more difficult to remove such a stain than from clothing, but it is still possible. The main thing is to do this as soon as possible before the stain penetrates deep into the mattress.
A blanket on the furniture or other elements of the bed is more of a plus than a minus, because then the bulk of the liquid will be on them. You need to wash bedding in the same way as clothes - first get rid of the stain, and then wash it completely.
If there is nothing on the sofa, first of all you need to dry the wet area with napkins. Under no circumstances press hard on the stain - then the moisture will not be absorbed into the napkin, but will get into the inner layers, from where it will no longer be possible to remove it. For the same reason, you should not blow on dirt with a hairdryer.
When the last napkin is dry, you need to use adsorbents to absorb moisture under the upholstery. It can be salt or soda, in extreme cases starch or flour - whatever you can find at home. After this, you can start washing.
Glycerol
You can dilute a few drops with water or use a bar of soap - it also contains glycerin. Grate the soap and add water to create a foamy soap solution. Apply it to the stain and leave for 15-20 minutes.
Alcohol
After treatment with glycerin, alcohol will help remove any remaining odor. It does not remove dirt, but the pungent smell will let your pet know that this place is not for him.
Vinegar
Vinegar will also work instead of alcohol. Do not use it in its pure form! A 1:2 ratio with water will be enough to eliminate the odor.
How to prevent the problem from happening again?
To prevent another incident, it is necessary to find out the reason why the animal marks things. If the problem is that your pet is sick, he needs to be shown to a veterinarian and undergo a course of therapy. It is also important to keep the tray clean so that the cat feels comfortable going into it. At the same time, it is necessary to exclude harsh treatment of the pet, because it can express protest and resentment in this way.
Sometimes cats begin to “mark” their territory when they feel the need to mate. In this case, it is necessary to organize mating or castrate the animal.
If the cat “has chosen” the same place, you can treat it with a substance that repels animals (vodka or lemon juice). You can also place a piece of foil on this place - the animal will not want to walk on an object with a smooth shiny surface.
If the owner caught the cat at the scene of a “crime,” it is necessary to take it by the withers and lift it, thereby demonstrating that it did the wrong thing. After this, you need to poke his nose into a stain or puddle and take him to the tray.
Sometimes there are such clean animals that they separate places for going to the toilet “in a small way” and “in a big way”. In this case, you will have to purchase another tray. If there are several cats living in the house, each of them should have its own litter box. It is important that the cat litter box is located in a secluded place, preferably dark. Then the pet probably won't urinate where it wants to.
A cat owner should know several ways to remove cat urine from an item. To quickly remove urine stains from upholstery and carpet, you can use folk and store-bought remedies. Both have a deodorizing effect.
Removing urine from shoes
How to remove cat urine from shoes is a common question among cat owners. Washing shoes damaged by a cat is quite difficult. Products made from natural materials (leather, suede, etc.) strongly absorb liquid, and if the stain was not noticed immediately, it becomes almost impossible to remove the smell. Artificial materials can react unpredictably to detergents, and if shoes are made poorly, they can become deformed after washing. Therefore, you should be especially careful when processing these things.
Shoes can be divided into 2 types according to the characteristics of care: textile sneakers, sneakers and leather boots, shoes. Fabric materials are easier to clean, and the principle of washing is similar, for example, to clothes - first remove the stain, then wash the whole thing. With leather shoes and faux leather, the situation is more complicated, because after using detergents, they still need to be ventilated. Cleaning may be necessary several times.
Some of the effective remedies against cat odor are citric acid and manganese solution. Be sure to check the reaction of the material in an inconspicuous place!
Lemon acid
Dilute the solution to a moderately sour taste and apply to the stain. Lemon juice in a 1:2 ratio with water is also suitable for these purposes. Only suitable for light-colored shoes, dark colors may become faded.
Potassium permangantsovka
Perfect for treating leather shoes and floors (linoleum, laminate) where the “crime” was committed. For leather and leatherette use a bright crimson solution, for textiles - a paler solution. Before use, be sure to ensure that manganese will not stain the material.
After removing the odor, the shoes must be washed in a washing machine or by hand. Cleaning bags is similar to cleaning shoes, and you can also use the same recipes for clothes.
To summarize
If you have several animals at home or the only cat periodically surprises you, buy a black lamp. Its specificity is the detection of dried biological secretions in the form of urine. Wardrobe items such as coats, fluffy evening dresses or fur items quickly absorb urine and dry out, and they cannot be washed completely if the stain is not visible. Shine a black lamp on the item with the light off, and you will see exactly where the cat misbehaved, and you can treat the stain locally.
Using a black lamp, you can detect old pet marks left in different parts of the house and solve the problem by preventatively washing frequently visited corners with special products.
Removing stains from carpet
If a cat has marked the carpet together, it should be treated in the same way - first, use one of the household or store-bought products to remove the stain and smell, and then hang it to dry in an open space. If possible, it is advisable to clean the rug completely with water and detergent, or take it to the dry cleaner.
Vodka is also suitable for removing urine. You need to blot the problem area and then rub it a little. The smell of alcohol will disappear along with the unpleasant smell with urine.
Prevention measures
Punishing a pet makes the situation worse; the animal will not stop marking. You shouldn't poke a cat into a puddle with its muzzle. In most cases, there is a reason that explains the appearance of puddles. It needs to be eliminated. To prevent the animal from shitting in the corners, you need to adhere to the following rules:
Hormones
Sexually mature, unneutered cats mark their territory. Sterilization helps solve the problem.
Disease
With diseases of the genitourinary system (cystitis, urolithiasis), the animal is unable to control urination. The pet needs to be taken to the vet immediately. Without timely treatment, he may die.
Psychological reasons
Animals in a state of stress leave puddles. Strangers, sounds, or other animals brought into the apartment can frighten a cat. Sometimes pets shit, taking revenge for insults inflicted on them or protesting against dirty cat litter.
