Stop Cat Peeing on Bed - The Clean-up

PART 2

Just to recap; In Cats Peeing on the Bed Part I., we explored the most common reasons that cats pee on the bed:

• Health Issues
• Stress Reducer

Various ways to handle the problem:

• Vet Visit
• Find the trigger
• Use positive measures
• Consult an expert

So, kitty no longer is peeing on the bed, but now your other cats are marking the spot with their urine. What are your options?

• Flip the mattress over
• Buy a new bed
• Give up and sleep on the floor
• Burn the bed

Well, flipping the mattress over might stop the problem, but eventually you will have to deal with the stain. So instead of lugging the bed out to the burn pile or pretending you are camping in your home by sleeping on the floor. Let’s just deal with some effective ways to remove the stain, the smell and the damage. Let me just add, because I work with abused cats and kittens, I have been there and done that many times. I know how frustrated you feel seeing your “safe” warm bed turning into your cat’s litter box.

Cleaning the cat pee-

If it is fresh, immediately grab absorbent toweling. I use the cheapest box of disposable diapers I can find. Strip the bedding, or slide the cushion onto the floor, place the diaper, cloth side down on the stain and step on it to release the urine and bring it up into the pad. Repeat the procedure several times to remove as much of the moisture as you can.

Your first impulse may be to grab for the vinegar, the lemon juice or a common household cleaner to clean up the pee, but vinegar alone won’t work. Lemon juice will bleach out your bedspread, not to mention the combination of urine and lemon juice is just downright nasty. Household cleaners are a gamble because not all of them are safe for cats (or people either) Read the labels carefully. If you see any phenols listed and you use that product, you have just taken the first step towards destroying your cat’s liver. If you are like me and you can’t read the ingredient list (because of tiny print) take a small jar of warm water, pour the cleaner into the water. If the water turns white- DO NOT USE that cleaner around your cats!

If it is a washable bedspread, toss it into your washing machine and use Dreft® laundry detergent. Do not put it in the dryer though- hang it up to air dry for at least 24 hours

On a couch cushion, remove the covering (if possible) hand wash the item in Dreft®. Let it air-dry.

If it is dry-clean only, be sure and mist the fabric with the proper enzyme cleaner before taking it to the cleaners.

If unable to immediately launder misting only is highly recommended, One of the best products currently available is UrineOut™Powder. You can find this product on Planet Urine’s website.  The beauty of this product is that it removes new and old stains along with the odor. Always test the fabric first before applying any urine remover. Some fabrics will fade with certain products.

Other effective products: (Remember to mist only)

• Urine-off
• Tuff-Oxi
• Zero Odor
• Urine Ease
• EnzymeD

After misting, take a brush and scrub the material gently. Blot up any excess moisture, vacuum until dry. After the bedspread/couch cushion is dry use an Ultraviolet light to be sure there is no urine left behind.

Whether it is a male cat, a female cat or a kitten urinating on your bed our couch, the results are going to be the same. If you do not effectively remove the stain and the odor, the behavior may continue. With kittens, they are used to peeing and pooping wherever they sleep. Depending on their age you can add more litter pans closer to the bed, or confine them in a smaller room until they understand what the litter pans are for. Male and female cats over the age of one-year old should be seen by your vet to rule out a health issue first. Always test the fabric first before applying any urine remover. Some fabrics will fade with certain products. If the behavior continues after you take kitty to the vet and he gets a clean bill of health, look for triggers that might cause this behavior. If all else fails, consult a professional for more guidance.