It might not be the prettiest of subject matters, but it’s an important one.
The smell of cat urine is generally not something people want lingering in the house. Whether you’ve just moved into a new place that has been obviously occupied by cats with the previous owners, have stray cats spraying your doors in the middle of the night, or if your own cat(s) have done their deeds in a less than ideal location and you just can’t get rid of the odor – this is the guide for you!
Cat urine smells and stains can make their way anywhere, but the most common surfaces that give us trouble are carpets and other fabrics. Whether your cat has missed the litter tray or has a behavioral issue that results in inappropriate toileting, you’ll want to remove all urine as soon as you possibly can.
The longer it’s left, the more embedded the smell becomes (but it’s always possible to remove it of course).
We all know some cats are extremely sneaky, and sometimes you don’t even discover a urine spot out of the litter tray until you really start to investigate an off smell.
Detecting Cat Urine
If you know it’s there, but can’t quite find the source of the urine, it can be frustrating.
This is where a UV flashlight can save the day. These nifty little gadgets are small and cheap, but can help solve some pretty big problems around the home. The light lets you see things that our eyes can’t naturally see – like urine stains, including when it’s dry. They can also pick up other things like bed bugs.
This lets you pinpoint the exact location where inappropriate toileting has happened.
It helps if you know where it is, rather than guessing, as you can then work to make that spot less favorable for your cat (who has likely targeted it as a go-to toilet spot, unbeknownst to you), and you can concentrate your clean up on just the offending spot, rather than having to clean an entire floor or couch if you don’t have time.
Hardwood Floors
The best way to clean cat urine from hardwood floors is to do it as soon as you notice it – then tackle it with either a spray on odor remover, or use a natural DIY solution like vinegar and water (note: some floor installers will recommended against vinegar use on hardwood; check with your flooring company if you’re unsure).
Because there lots of different types of hardwood flooring, and various finishes that can affect what you can use on it for cleaning, it’s ideal to be aware of what the recommendations are for your flooring type.
If you’re unsure though (as is often the case if you didn’t install the floors yourself or they’re old), use a quality pet stain and odor remover that specifically states that it’s suitable for wood flooring.
Some, such as the Nature’s Miracle 3in1 clearly states that it’s actually not safe to use on wood floors.
