The cat is currently one of the most popular pets. It does not require constant care and a large investment of your time, so it is perfect for keeping in an apartment. But in such a small space you need to find a decent place to satisfy all her needs.
But along with the pleasant and joyful moments from communicating with cats, there are also negative aspects. One of them is the disgusting smell left by animals that are not accustomed to their tray or for some reason do not want to use it.
There are a large number of reasons why your pet does not recognize its toilet, but relieves itself in the wrong place. Having found out this reason, you can not only get rid of the unpleasant odor once, but also prevent its occurrence in the future.
Act now
If your pet makes a puddle outside the litter box, you need to start fixing the problem as soon as possible.
The longer cat urine remains uncleaned, the stronger and more unpleasant the smell becomes. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the dried stain may not be visible, but the smell will be unbearable. In addition, traces of an old puddle can provoke a cat to repeat the experiment. To effectively combat odor, you need to at least have a general idea of the composition of cat urine. Its main ingredients are urea and urochrome, which are easily washed off with water, as well as colorless crystals of uric acid. It is the latter that pose a problem, since they do not dissolve well in water, but when the humidity level increases, they begin to emit a smell with renewed vigor.
Causes
The main cause of unpleasant odor from cats is marking their territory with urine. Moreover, its composition is more concentrated than from normal urination, so it is more difficult to remove, especially from fabrics and furniture upholstery. Thus, the cat does not make a puddle, but sprays various objects with a stream, showing its dominance.
The most effective method of combating this is castration of the cat, and it is best done at 7-8 months, immediately after puberty. If you do not want to subject your cat to surgery, you should start letting him outside or come up with a way to walk him, this way you will expand his boundaries and marking at home, he will stop.
The reasons may also lie in various diseases of the animal, most often in such cases the number of urinations per day increases. The wrong location of the tray can also lead to your pet not wanting to relieve itself in it. For the cat's litter box, you need a quiet, calm place so that your animal will not be disturbed by anything.
Cats also very often mark objects that are new to them, these could be the shoes and bags of your guests. Newly purchased items with an unfamiliar smell to the animal may also be attacked. In this case, new items should be allowed to be sniffed by the cat and hidden for a while, and it is best to put the guests’ belongings away, so that the cat does not get to them and show who is boss.
How to eliminate an unpleasant odor in a thermos
Apply an enzyme solution to the stain
You can use both special formulations sold in pet stores and general-purpose detergents. It is very important not to try to treat the odor with other chemicals before you treat the stain with an enzyme product; it may react with residues from the previous solution and not work.
Apply the substance according to the instructions on the package and leave until completely dry. Most likely, this measure will be enough to completely eliminate the smell.
Odor Eliminators
In the fight against cat marks you will need special means. The first step is to take paper towels or a rag and blot up the puddle. This will prevent the spot from increasing in size. Afterwards it is necessary to apply a special composition or general purpose detergent. Both home and professional formulations are suitable.
Available means
In every apartment you can find effective means for removing the smell of cat urine.
| Enzyme product | Any detergent will quickly break down protein compounds, which helps eliminate odors. You can use regular “Whiteness” or “BOS”. |
| Vodka | Effective in removing fresh stains. Masks the aroma of urine, spreading an alcoholic odor into the room. |
| Lemon acid | The acid affects the components of urine, and the sharp smell of citrus fruits will scare the cat away from repeating the dirty trick. |
| Vinegar | The liquid is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed onto the stain. |
| Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide | The mixture is left overnight and the area is wiped in the morning. At first, an ammonia smell spreads, but then it disappears, removing traces of urine. This product should not be used on fabric or varnish surfaces . |
| Potassium permangantsovka | Soak a rag in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and wipe the stain with it. Since it leaves traces, it is not advisable to use it on the surface of furniture and carpets . |
| Iodine | Five drops of iodine are diluted in 500 ml of water. Cats cannot stand its smell, so they will not harm where it smells. May stain surfaces. |
| Laundry soap | Suitable for all surfaces. Quickly and easily eliminates stool odor. |
| Red pepper | The pepper is left in place for several days. The cat cannot stand its smell, so it will no longer shit there. |
| Camphor alcohol | It does not leave stains and disappears quickly, taking the scent of urine with it. |
After treating the stain, you need to leave a dry towel on it to absorb any remaining liquid.
When using detergents, it should be borne in mind that most of them contain ammonia, which attracts cats and provokes them to repeat the feat.
Important! When using products, it is advisable to wear rubber gloves to avoid skin damage.
Specialized drugs
For better results, you can buy a product at a pet store that is designed specifically to eliminate urine odor.
| Dezosan | The product from Zoo Clean even eliminates the smell of feces. It doesn’t just mask, but removes it at the molecular level. It contains nonionic surfactants and food fragrance. It is recommended to apply the product using a washing vacuum cleaner. Price – 400 rubles per 0.5 liter. |
| Zoosan | There are no harmful substances in the composition, so the product is safe for both pets and their owners. It contains food fragrances, antiseptics, and special dyes that eliminate the smell of urine from furniture, carpets and floors. Price – 350 rub. |
| OdorGone | Natural urine odor neutralizer based on plant extracts. Has bactericidal properties. Eliminates even old odors. Can be used in rooms with pets and children. Price – 800 rub. |
| Urine-off Cat & Kitten | An American product with bioenzymes that destroy uric acid molecules. Animals will be afraid to dirty the place treated with it in the future. Bacteria and enzymes remove odor and marks. Cost – 200 rub. |
| Odor kill | A product from England that removes not only the odor of urine, but also fur. Has a pleasant vanilla aroma. The product does not harm people or pets. Suitable for processing both soft and hard surfaces. Price – 800 rub. |
| "Complete Pet Stain&Odor Remover" | Odor eliminator with citrus scent. Gets rid of cat urine, blood, vomit and feces stains. The ingredients help decompose the ammonia odor without leaving any traces of it. The cat will not want to repeat the experiment. Cost – 600 rub. |
| Bio-G | Spray for odor removal and disinfection. Contains natural fruit and vegetable ingredients. Promotes rapid decomposition of waste. Price – 160 rub. |
| DuftaPet | German remedy for getting rid of the smell of animal urine. Can be sprayed on wood, stone, upholstered and leather furniture. The drug is not dangerous for people and animals. The components break down organic odorous molecules. Cost – 850 rub. |
If the stain is old, using one product may not be effective. You will need to combine several methods of getting rid of urine.
When treating surfaces, you need to open windows. This will dissipate the smell faster.
Ineffective and harmful methods to combat urine odor
In an attempt to cope with the corrosive smell of urine, owners resort to any methods. Some of them can cause significant harm to health and property. Bleach not only damages surfaces, but also does not evaporate well from the room. It can increase the smell of urine and harm the health of everyone in the home.
Chlorine-containing products cause allergies. The substance contains ammonia, which will encourage the cat to repeat the feat in the old place. For the same reason, ammonia should not be used . Using fragrances and deodorants is also useless. The smells of citrus fruits, coffee or sea breeze will only mask, but will not eliminate the smell of cat urine.
Carefully! Combining products with ammonia and bleach is dangerous.
Use vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
If it is not possible to quickly obtain a product with enzymes, you can make do with improvised means. To begin, mix 1 ½ cups of water with ½ cup of table vinegar and pour this solution over the stain. After 3-5 minutes, blot the stain with paper towels and sprinkle it generously with baking soda.
Then dilute 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in 100 ml of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Try rubbing the resulting solution onto an inconspicuous area of the floor or carpet to make sure that the solution does not discolor the coating. If everything is in order, apply the mixture over the soda and rub thoroughly with a brush.
After this, all you have to do is wait a few hours until the mixture dries and vacuum it up. If the urine has already become ingrained, you may have to repeat the entire procedure again.
How to get rid of the smell of cat urine from the sofa and floor
In this section, we will look at products that effectively remove the aroma of cat tricks.
Enzyme cleaner
An inexpensive product that is sold in pet stores. The composition includes enzymes that break down urine protein and eliminate the cause of the odor. They get the job done on the floor, mattress or sofa. First, the urine is removed with warm water, and then a cleaner is used. But: if other means were used in this place, these enzymes will not help (the chemical composition of the liquid has changed).
Baking soda
Baking soda absorbs stinking liquid and removes the odor from old stains. The marks are sprinkled with soda, rubbed into the fabric with a brush, and left for 10-12 hours. Excess is removed with a vacuum cleaner. If the smell remains, wash it with special products for carpets, upholstery or linoleum.
Acetic acid
Blot the puddle with a wet rag. The acid is mixed with water in equal proportions and poured on top of the remaining urine. After 10-15 minutes, wash off the vinegar and wipe the floor dry. The acid dissolves urine crystals and instantly eliminates the odor.
Apple vinegar
Apple cider vinegar acts delicately and helps remove amber from sofa upholstery, carpet, and linoleum. The acid is mixed with hand washing powder in equal proportions. Rub the mixture into the stain, wait 10 minutes, and wash off with a wet sponge. If the smell has not disappeared completely, you can add a drop of enzymatic cleaner.
Oxygen bleach
The mild product acts gently and does not lighten laminate, linoleum, or sofa upholstery. How to proceed: first wash the stain and wipe dry. Then mix the cleaning agent with water in a ratio of 1:10, spray it on the material, wait 10-15 seconds, and wash it off with a damp sponge. If necessary, repeat the procedure several times.
Hydrogen peroxide and soda
Sprinkle the puddle with baking soda and leave for 2 hours. Mix half a glass of peroxide and a tablespoon of dishwashing detergent. This solution is sprayed on top of the soda, mixed, and rubbed into the material. After complete drying, remove the powder with a vacuum cleaner or dry cloth.
Iodine
Iodine dissolves uric acid crystals well: dilute 20 drops in a liter of water and wash the cat's mark spots well. After drying, remove marks with warm water and wipe the floor dry. Iodine helps to cope even with old stains.
Lemon acid
Lemon juice is convenient to use when you need to get rid of odors on the floor, sofa, or walls. Squeeze the juice from half a citrus onto a sponge and treat the foul-smelling mark. Waiting for it to dry. Remove the acid with a wet cloth and repeat the procedure. Do not use on dark surfaces; citric acid has a brightening effect.
Potassium permanganate
A weak aqueous solution of potassium permanganate works well to remove cat odor. Use rose water to treat traces of urine, wait until it dries, and repeat the procedure until the unpleasant odor completely disappears.
Mouthwash
Suitable for a fresh puddle, but will not cope with old marks. The mark is blotted with a dry cloth, and the area is treated with a sponge soaked in mouthwash. Wash off and repeat the procedure if necessary.
How to remove traces of urine from automatic washing
When excreting urine, you should not use hot water, since urine contains proteins that denature and eat into the tissue when the ambient temperature rises. The water should be approximately 40 °C, and the rinse mode should also be set.
Attention! Before you wash your cat's urine in the washing machine, you need to look at the product label. If the item is made of delicate fabric, then automatic washing is often prohibited.
Powder selection
When removing urine, you can add a little more powder than required, since urine stains are a difficult task even for the latest washing machines. It is recommended to purchase a powder with a disinfection effect: as a rule, household chemicals for washing children's clothes have this property.
To remove cat urine stains, powder alone is not enough - you must use stain removers, follow the instructions for use and do not exceed the dosage so as not to spoil the product.
It is also recommended to fill a cap of conditioner when washing a damaged item, as it softens the fabric and gives a pleasant aroma.
Cat urine is a complex stain that is not easy to remove: it quickly eats into fabric and leaves an unpleasant odor. Urine can be removed using folk remedies and washing in a machine, but you must follow the instructions and safety rules when working with aggressive solutions. If the item is expensive and cannot be processed at home, it is recommended to have it dry cleaned.
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What absolutely should not be done
There are cleaning products that we often use in everyday life, but they should never be used when cleaning cat urine and tags:
Detergents and cleaners with chlorine (will only increase the smell).
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Eau de toilette, perfume and deodorants (they will not be able to completely mask the unpleasant aroma, but after they are weathered, it will become more pungent and persistent).
Aromatic oils (have odorous volatile components, but the oil base, once on urine, will forever fix its smell on the surface).
What not to do
Some housewives immediately run for bleach and generously water the area where the pet defecated. This can lead to damage to the floor covering or sofa upholstery. In this case, it is better not to use substances containing chlorine. They destroy fibers and discolor the fabric.
Air fresheners or eau de toilette will also not help. Such products only mask the stench, but do not destroy it. The flavors mix, which only makes the situation worse.
From the article you learned how to remove the smell of cat urine from your apartment in a few minutes. Act correctly and you will get rid of such troubles forever. Traditional methods are effective and allow you to quickly take action. To avoid them, make sure that the tray is always clean and monitor your pet’s behavior. Sometimes, in this way, he tries to point out the problem. Do you like to lie around? Then read on to learn how to remove grass from clothes.
