How to clean up cat urine

There are a number of reasons why your cat might have messed in the house and we shall go into the reasons in another article, your main concern now is to clear it up! Once a cat has used a particular spot it tends to mean they are likely to use that area again as their toilet, so whilst clearing it up you need to stop them using this spot again. 

The recommended cleaning process

• Wipe up/blot out the urine from the area
• Wash the area with a 10% solution of biological washing powder (warm water), try not to oversaturate fabric 
• Rinse the area with cold water and allow the area to dry 
• Once dry, spray the area (use a mister style spray bottle) with surgical spirit, scrub gently and leave to evaporate. You may want to test a small area first as it may discolour fabrics
• Alternatively, use Feliway in place of the surgical spirit 
• Placing a food bowl with a small amount of their dry kibble in is normally helpful (no animal likes to toilet where there's food) 

Carpet is extremely absorbent and urine often penetrates the full thickness of the pile to the flooring underneath. Unfortunately if the area is continuously soiled with urine it may be necessary to cut out the section of carpet and underlay and meaning you need to treat the concrete or floorboards underneath before replacing.

Why should I not use everyday cleaning products?

Cats have a very sensitive nose and could interpret your cleaning product as the marking of a rival cat. The smell could cause your cat to be even more determined to mark that area again!  

What other products could I use?

There are specialist enzymatic cleaners, these can help remove stains and the odour. As many animal shelters, vets etc do not have bio washing powder (to prevent skin allergies/ condition in pets) the main product I have used is Pet Care's Stainaway. 

What is Feliway?

This product is based on a cat's natural pheromone, that they leave when they are feeling contented and comfortable. You'll notice your cat rubbing it's nose against you and the sofa and the chair legs for example, well he is marking his odour onto these objects and you. By spraying or release this pheromone into the environment you can help improve your cat's feeling of wellbeing. This can be useful in a variety of situations that are considered stressful from a cat's point of view.