The fall season brings on many festivities, from fun activities to scary decorations, the most popular event in October is Halloween. One classic Halloween symbol is of a black cat. You see them everywhere, as statues, candles, and lawn signs. This is the only time of year that black cats are everywhere!
Black cats are known for bringing back luck and curses to any human they came near from Medieval France and Spain, this being because they were associated with witchcraft, and witches were thought to be evil by early settlers in Europe which then inspired the iconic Halloween figure.
But we all know that these thoughts about black cats are not true. Black cats aren’t evil. They are cute and cuddly and soft and playful little beings until they miss their litter box and urinate on the floor! Although this isn’t an uncommon practice of our furry felines, it does happen. It can also happen in a corner or by a door.
Unlike dog urine, cat urine has a much stronger concentration to it, which makes the smell more foul. There are ways to eliminate the awful smell of cat urine from your carpet, non-carpeted floors, and even bedding or clothing.
Simple Ways to Remove the Smell of Cat Urine
There are a few things you should know about why your cat is urinating outside the litter box: The could be an unneutered male in the area who has sprayed close by to mark their territory, female cats in the area who are spraying when in heat, changes in the household, a health issue or the litter box just hasn’t been cleaned out.
It is important NOT to cover the smell with perfumes or fragrances, the faster you clean up the cat urine, the sooner you will get rid of the odor and prevent your cat from peeing in that spot again.
The ammonia smell in cat urine is awful, you don’t like it and neither does your cat. If your litter box smells of urine, your cat may prefer a different spot to go instead of a dirty litter box. Using the right litter and continually cleaning out the litter box will encourage your feline to use the box and not your floor, bedding, or clothing.
Cleaning Cat Urine Odor from Carpet
Getting rid of the smell of cat urine from carpeting can be challenging because it can soak right through the carpet fibers to the carpet padding. And since cats have a strong sense of smell, it’s important to clean and deodorize the area completely to prevent a return visit! If you notice that there is a lot of urine around your home, try using one of these methods to remove the smell quickly.
Use baking soda – Baking Soda is used to neutralize odors such as those caused by pet waste. Simply sprinkle some into the affected areas and let sit overnight. In the morning, vacuum thoroughly. Spray Lysol – Lysol disinfectant spray kills bacteria and viruses, including germs Scrub the area thoroughly with club soda, and let dry. Then sprinkle with baking soda. Let it sit so the baking soda can soak up any lingering odors, and then vacuum.
Getting Rid of Cat Urine Odor from Non-Carpeted Surfaces
If your cat is peeing on non-carpeted surfaces such as ceramic tile, grout, vinyl plank, or linoleum, here’s how to get a deep clean that removes the urine odor.
Cleaning non-carpet surfaces requires a non-ammonia and non-vinegar based solution, whether it’s homemade or commercial. Cat urine contains ammonia and when it mixes with bleach, dangerous gases are created – so do not clean with bleach.
Removing Cat Urine Odor from Bedding and Clothes
If your cat urinates or sprays on your bedding or clothing, don’t take it personally, this is their way of telling you they need your attention.
Put the urine-soiled items into your washer and wash separately at the hottest temperature recommended by the item’s care label. In addition to your detergent, add a quarter cup of white vinegar to your washer’s bleach dispenser. You can also use a detergent that has baking soda in it. The natural power of baking soda will help to neutralize the cate urine odor.
Always be cautious when cleaning delicate fabrics and again – never use bleach when cleaning cat pee from bedding, clothing, upholstery, or the floors – mixing bleach with ammonia could create dangerous gases.
Remember our felines are our friends, they are not evil, and not to be messed with this Halloween.