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Eliminating Cat Odor

My last column was about dog-related events while on vacation. I’d like to be able to write an entire column about “vacation cats” but cats just aren’t as obvious as dogs. People don’t generally walk their cats, and, cats are not widely used as herding animals. Cats tend to travel solo, and to keep hidden, especially in large cities. They’re there, but you don’t see them.

At the cottage where we stayed in Wales, I did spot three cats, one black and white, one jet-black and one gray and white. The cats were all feral, running for shelter immediately if I opened the door. They hunted near the cottage and I watched the black cat catch a mouse one afternoon, then slink under the deck to enjoy dinner in private.

One day, during our second week in Wales, we saw five kittens playing in the rock garden in front of the cottage. There were two gray and whites, two black and whites and one all black. I wondered if they were all from the same litter, or were a mix of litters. I’m not that familiar with cat genes to know which adult might have bred with which other adult to produce those particular color combinations. It didn’t really matter as we watched them leap and pounce among the rocks and ferns. I knew they’d all run away if I went out, but it was a huge temptation; I really wanted to cuddle one.

There was a television quiz show in Wales called, “8 Out of 10 Cats” so I tuned in one evening, hoping it had something to do with felines. It had absolutely nothing to do with cats and, watching it, I couldn’t figure out why that was the title. It wasn’t related to animals at all. I would have loved to have called the producer and asked what he or she was thinking.

So, not much cat-related to report from Dublin or Wales. Closer to home, on a walk the other evening, we stopped to chat with a neighbor and she suggested a column on odor elimination, specifically, cat urine odor. So, I emailed my cat friends for suggestions.

First, never, ever use ammonia as a cleaning agent. Urine contains ammonia and that ammonia scent will just encourage your cat, or cats, to continue to use that area. Plastic litter boxes will eventually need to be replaced because the odor will build up in the plastic. To add life to the litter box, clean with a mild bleach and water solution. Fill the box and let it soak for at least 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, then wash with mild dish soap. Rinse and let air dry. Clean at least once a week.

One person did comment that sometimes cats are attracted to the scent of bleach; so, make sure you rinse well to eliminate bleach odor.

If your cat has decided some other area is a great place to either urinate or spray, here are some other suggestions. Use bleach, depending on the surface. You won’t want to use bleach on upholstery or carpeting, and maybe not on certain other surfaces, either.

Another product that would never have occurred to me is rubbing alcohol. It’s relatively inexpensive and evaporates quickly. Test before using on textiles. Another person says she uses Nature’s Miracle, which is good on everything except thick upholstery.

The absolute favorite product mentioned by my multiple-cat-owning friends for getting rid of urine odor was Zero Odor. Zero Odor will remove odor from all sorts of surfaces. The company makes a product specifically for pet odors, and also makes a product to add to laundry. I intend to try this the next time I wash dog beds, as even a good washing doesn’t always leave them fresh smelling.

According to the Zero Odor website, all their products are “non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and appropriate for use around people and pets.” The product eliminates odor by a reaction between molecules. Zero Odor combines with odor molecules and turns them into non-odor molecules.

No matter what product you use to clean up after your cat, remember that if your cat has always used a litter box, and is now avoiding it and going elsewhere, there may be a medical reason. Any abnormal behavior in any pet is cause for concern. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Caught early, many issues can be easily treated, but if you delay, you could endanger your pet’s long-term health.

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