How to Find and Remove Kitty Stains

Many people decide on cats as pets because they are relatively maintenance free companions. That isn't entirely true. Most cats need a good deal of attention and love, and neglect can have side affects such as your cat urinating on your carpet. In this article, we'll discuss how to identify if you have a problem, and a sure-fire procedure to remove the odor and stains.

How to find cat accidents

Before we talk about how to revive a carpet that has cat stains, we first have to determine how bad the problem actually is. Is it simply the occasional hairball, or is it a larger problem such as a piece of carpet that has been urinated on repeatedly? If it is the latter, then you have a much larger problem on your hands and will need to work with your cats to acclimate them to their litter boxes. Cat urine is not immediately recognizable on your carpet. It doesn't always smell right away, and isn't always yellow, and so the problem might not be noticed for months or even years.

Don't be surprised if you think your cats are using their litter boxes when they actually are not, especially if you have more than 2 cats. If you have a room in the house that is seldom used, especially a basement, and you notice that your cat spends a lot of time down there, then it would be a good idea to check the room to make sure there hasn't been something going on behind your back.

Your best weapon of defense, aside from the growing odor and stains, is a black light. You can buy one of these at any pet store for just a few dollars. Simply turn off the lights in the room (it's best to do this at night) and start scanning the carpet with the black light. Any animal fluids will show up on that light and will tell you what kind of problem you really have. There are so many people who don't realize they have a problem until the smell finally reaches critical mass. Your nose grows accustomed to the gradual build up, and so it usually takes a visitor to your home to finally show you the light, or the urine in this case!

Don't be mad at your cats. They are just doing what cats do, and their instincts have told them, for whatever reason, that their litter boxes are not fit for use. This could be because of several things 1) Their litter box is often too dirty for them, 2) they are having problems with another cat in the house and won't go where the other cats go, 3) they are a "two litter box cat", meaning they defecate in one box and urinate in the other, or 4) the cat has a health problem such as a urinary tract infection.

Be sure to treat your cats nicely even though they are likely about to cost you some time and money. And don't give them away. Too many people find out they are having a problem with their cats and decide to give them to a shelter rather than try to re-acclimate them to their litter boxes. Just a little effort and patience can see you through.

Not that we know how to detect stains, let's talk about removing them.

Removal of stains and odors

I have used several products to remove cat stains, primarily urine stains, and I can tell you a combination of several things usually does the trick.

1) If the stain is fresh, then dab at the spot with paper towels to soak up most of the stain. Try hard not to press the fluid down into your carpet where it might get into the matting.

WARNING: Do not use an industrial carpet cleaner yet, as it might bind the urine crystals to your carpet and make the smell even harder to remove.

2) Take a cat odor neutralizer and fully soak the spot. I've found the best product for this is Stink Free as this product is one you can leave in and not have to soak up. Just pour it on and let it dry. It also has a tolerable smell. Make sure to pour the odor neutralizer fully over and around the spot as the urine will bloom below the upper carpet fibers and into the matting. While wearing rubber gloves, press the neutralizer down into the carpet and padding for maximum affect.

WARNING: Make sure to pre-test any carpet product for color fastness. Stink Free, for me, has been the most effective product so far.

3) After you are sure the smell has been taken care of, and if there is still a stain, there are several ways you can remove it.
a) ½ cup of vinegar in a quart of warm water can be poured on the area. Place paper towels on the spot and cover them with something heavy to soak up as much of the solution as possible.
b) Use a commercial steam vac, like a Bissell or Hoover, as the instructions recommend.
c) For the occasional spot, having something like a Dirt Devil Spot Scrubber comes in handy.

For hairballs, use the same procedure, except feel free to pre-treat the stain with a stain remover from Hoover or Bissell, or even some Resolve will do the trick. Hairballs are more topical, and don't smell as bad as urine, so you shouldn't have to worry about any lasting odors.

For extreme cases where your cat or cats have been urinating in several areas for a long period of time, you may have to think about replacing the carpet, as the expense for cleaning materials can grow into the hundreds of dollars.

Regardless of your case, dealing with kitty accidents can be frustrating and difficult. Just remember that cats are driven by instinct and are not purposefully trying to cause you pain. With a little effort, persistence and patience, you can win the fight and create a healthier, happier environment for both you and your cats!