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.
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 can also be hidden in various diseases of the animal, most often in such cases, the number of urinations per day increases. Incorrect location of the tray can also lead to the fact that your pet does not want to relieve itself in it. A quiet, calm place is needed for the cat's toilet, so that nothing disturbs your animal.
Cats also very often mark new objects for them, these can be shoes and bags of your guests. Also, newly purchased things with an unfamiliar smell for the animal can be attacked. In this case, new objects should be given to the cat to sniff and hidden for a while, and it is best to put the guests' things away so that the cat does not get to them and does not begin to show - who is the boss in the house.
Why does the smell appear?
Getting rid of the corrosive smell of cat urine is not an easy task, but this can be dealt with. There are many methods for removing it. Their method of application depends on many factors. One of them is the surface on which the cat urine landed. The time it was on any of the objects, carpet or linoleum, is also important. The reasons for this "aroma" of urine are hidden in its composition:
- Urochrome is a substance that colors urine,
- Urea is a dry component that makes urine sticky,
- Uric acid - when dried, turns into crystals that do not dissolve in water.
The first two components are easily removed with any detergent, which is widely available on store shelves. But the third component is very difficult to remove, but this is also possible.
After regular wet cleaning, the smell remains due to uric acid. It accumulates when cat urine gets into the same place repeatedly. This is why the smell is so difficult to remove. The most difficult thing to get rid of is if the fabric or upholstery has been marked. Cats' marks contain more concentrated uric acid, which is why their smell is stronger.
Recipes for removing cat urine odor
A fresh puddle of urine is the easiest to clean up, especially if it ends up on linoleum. First of all, we blot the urine with a rag or paper towels, then treat the area with diluted acetic acid to remove the smell. It leaves no marks and will not damage hardwood floors or carpets. You can also use lemon juice to get rid of the smell.
It is not easy to remove stains and the smell of cat urine from the upholstery of upholstered furniture; a weak solution of potassium permanganate can help with this. Dilute it in water until pink, apply it to a cloth and rub the stained area. Thus, we saturate the upholstery a little with the solution. Weakly diluted potassium permanganate will not stain, and your sofa will remain clean.
If the mattress is damaged, you will need mineral water or boric acid, as well as salt, to clean it. Pour mineral water or diluted boric acid onto the stain and sprinkle salt on top. After this, you need to wait a few hours, remove the salt and rinse off the residue with water.
The most difficult thing to remove the smell of cat urine from shoes. If this just happened and the shoes are still wet, the following steps will help. To begin, apply a thick solution of laundry soap and water to the stain using a soft brush. Then rinse with water and treat with vodka or glycerin.The last components are needed in order to discourage the cat from marking your shoes in the future.
Old stains from cat urine are not at all easy to remove, because the smell will constantly return when you walk. If these are sneakers or another type of fabric shoes, then only constant washing with a solution of acetic acid will help them. This will not work with leather shoes, because from so many washes they will instantly deteriorate. But it can be wiped with diluted lemon juice or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
It will be much easier to remove the smell of cat urine from things. You need to add 60 milliliters of apple cider vinegar or 30 milliliters of table vinegar to the wash along with the washing powder. If the stain is old, dilute the vinegar with water and soak the items in the solution for several hours, and then wash as with normal washing.
It is better to deal with old stains on the carpet using several means in the following order:
- make a solution of vinegar and water 1/3, pour it generously over the area where the cat is marked,
- you need to completely dry the carpet, to do this we blot the puddle with dry rags and paper towels,
- Sprinkle the affected area with baking soda, it is a natural cleaning agent,
- Mix hydrogen peroxide with detergent or liquid soap at a ratio of 4/1, and pour the resulting solution onto baking soda. Rub it all thoroughly into the carpet using a sponge or brush,
- wait until the mixture is completely dry and collect it with a vacuum cleaner. Conventional vacuum or washing vacuum cleaners are suitable for this. Steam cleaners will only make the smell stronger, so it's best not to use them.
Soda is a wonderful and indispensable cleaning assistant. It is a natural cleaner and will help keep your carpet clean at all times. Before vacuuming, sprinkle the carpet with baking soda and leave for 10-15 minutes, during which time it will absorb unpleasant odors and can then be easily removed with a vacuum cleaner.
Don’t forget that cats are very clean animals, so if you keep the tray and litter clean, then problems with odor may not arise. The tray can be cleaned with soda, it is advisable to do this every day.
But not everyone can afford to spend so much time cleaning up after their cat, so it is necessary to use special fillers that absorb both moisture and odor. In this case, the cat’s litter box will remain clean longer, requiring minimal effort from you. Cats are very gentle and affectionate creatures; they, like other animals, need constant care.
