So now that you are a cat owner, it is a possibility that you may at some time have to deal with a cat that has peed outside the box. (Cats DO prefer to use their box, so if your cat is not, there is some reason that you have to not only discover, but also fix.) Getting cat urine on your carpet is by no means one of the joys of pet ownership. It can be really distressing and frustrating and it is easy to get angry at kitty…

Cat urine is one of the more challenging odors to remove especially when not using proper cleaning products.When cat urine is allowed to dry in a carpet, amino acids in the urine actually bonds with the fibers of the rug.

The salts in the urine also bonds with the carpet through an ionic charge. These bonds will get stronger the longer the urine is in contact with the carpet. Homemade cleaners will not release these bonds. Steam cleaning will not release the bonds either, sometimes steam cleaning will make it worse.

Some cleaners available at the store are nothing but “odor maskers”. Other products attempt to absorb the foul smell.

This may help for the moment, but does not completely remove the urine, making the smell return eventually. With some urine left on the carpet, your cat will be more likely to urinate on the same spot again.

The first action to take when discovering a wet spot:

1. Blot or mop up as much urine as possible. Lay down absorbent towels and walk on them. Care should be taken if water is added to the spot -it can easily spread and make clean-up more difficult.

2. Use a cleaner based on enzymes that will actually consume the urine. Inject it into the padding, and then spray on top of the carpet. Pet the cleaner into the carpet.

3. That’s it! With the proper cleaner this all that is required from you. Now, keep kitty away from the area until it has dried thoroughly.

Remember, even though it may be easy when you are “in the moment”, do not scold your cat. Cats are fastidious about cleanliness and do not want to eliminate where they eat, sleep or play.

Inappropriate urination is a symptom that something is not OK. You may need to investigate what caused your cat to not use the box along with some enticement to use the box again. Not correcting the reason your cat is not going in the box may keep you cleaning your carpets and furniture over and over again.

Armed with the correct information and the proper products cleaning the urine from your carpet while preventing the behavior to re-occur, you are well on your way to have a happy purring kitty and a clean smelling home.