Sometimes Stress Is The Culprit
Sometimes your cat’s e-meow-tional health is the reason why she pees on the bed. Stress or nervousness can lead to the annoying habit because she doesn’t feel secure, and the stress can be caused by a variety of reasons. Maybe you recently had a change in your home, like rearranging furniture, bringing home a baby, moving, or changing your work schedule. Maybe she’s stressed by your other pets or even other cats wandering around your yard at night.
Increasing her confidence can help decrease her stress and, hopefully, her spraying incidents. Start by giving her more “high places” to claim as her own, like cat trees and cat condos. Cats build confidence when they have a taller perspective on their world.
Play with her more so you can build your bond and expend some of her energy. Maybe start taking her outdoors once a day on a cat harness, so she has a new adventure that stimulates her mind. Try , or get out a feather wand and play every day. Keep this bonding time consistent, so she looks forward to it.
Finally, use Comfort Zone products to help reduce stress. The Comfort Zone team is dedicated to helping cats feel safe, happy, and calm using signals cats understand. Try the Comfort Zone Calming Diffuser or the Comfort Zone Multi-Cat Diffuser if you have more than one cat. Plug them into the rooms where your cat spends the most time. If your cat is on-the-go, snap a Comfort Zone Calming Collar on her so she’ll take those calm feelings wherever she roams.
How To Remove Pee From A Mattress
These six steps describe the best method for how to remove pee from a mattress. The process for removing dried urine is only slightly different and builds on this method, so youll want to start with the basics no matter what.
What youll need:
Heres how to get pee out of a mattress in six easy steps:
Things To Watch Out For
What not to use. Dont use ammonia-based cleaning products, as it smells like cat pee and will attract your cat to keep urinating there.
Health problems. When a cat pees outside the litter box, this could be a sign of health issues or behavioral problems. Urinary tract problems such as kidney stones and bladder inflammation can be painful and make your cat urinate more. Kidney and liver diseases can also be a possibility as cats feel the need to drink more and pee more. Other possibilities include problems with your cats joints, nerves, or muscles, which can make it hard for them to climb in and out of the litter box. See your veterinarian to rule out any health problems.
Age issues. Older cats, especially those 10 years or older, may have age-related cat dementia or cognitive dysfunction. One of the behavioral problems associated with cognitive dysfunction is peeing and pooping outside of the litter box. See your veterinarian to rule out any age-related problems.
Check the litter. The litter box could be dirty or your cat may dislike the litter in it. Change the litter more often. You can also experiment with different types of litter. If you have several cats, the more dominant one may have marked it as their litter box, leaving the others to find someplace else to use as a toilet.
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Avoid Products That Contain Ammonia
Most importantly, avoid any cleaning products that contain ammonia. Ammonia is one component of cat urine, and if cats smell that, theyre more likely to go there, Dr. Kornreich says.
In addition, ammonia and other chemical cleaners can often set the stainthe opposite of what youre trying to do.
Heres what you should do to help eliminate the smell of cat pee from a surface.
1. Blot the Spot to Absorb the Urine
Find the stain as soon as possible and blot up as much of the urine as you can with a clean cloth.
2. Rinse and Vacuum the Area
Next, rinse the area with clean water and remove the liquid with a wet/dry vacuum. You dont want to use a steam cleaner, as the heat can set the stain, Roberts said.
3. Soak the Spot in Enzyme Cleaner
While enzyme cleaners come in a spray bottle, spraying a light coat over the stain wont do much. Instead, remove the sprayer and douse the spot liberally.
4. Let It Sit Before Blotting With a Clean Cloth
Let the cleaner sit for 10-15 minutes and blot up as much of it as possible with a clean cloth.
5. Prevent Your Cat From Returning to the Spot
To keep your cat from returning to the spot during the cleaning process, place a piece of aluminum foil or an aluminum baking sheet over the area, or cover it with an upside-down laundry basket.
6. Reapply the Cleaner if Necessary
You may need to reapply the cleaner and let it dry again for older or particularly smelly stains.
Use Distilled White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is a mild acid that helps neutralize the components in urine. Pour some distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle and liberally spray the areas that have a pee smell. Allow the mattress to air-dry. The vinegar smell will be strong at first but will dissipate as it dries.
You can speed the drying time by using circulating fans to move air across the mattress.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
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How To Remove Cat Urine From A Mattress
Inappropriate urination in cats is one of the leading reasons why cats are surrendered to shelters. It is frustrating to pet owners, but there is always a reason why cats do this. Getting to the bottom of the cause will help you to find a workable solution that will ensure you and your cat remain happy.
How Do You Get Pee Out Of A Mattress Without Vinegar
If you dont have vinegar available, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can be a great swap for getting pee out of a mattress. Youll want to make a mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and liquid detergent:
- 1 part baking soda
- 5 parts hydrogen peroxide
- A dash of liquid detergent
Once youve created your baking soda solution, spray the stain with the solution and let it sit until the solution is dried. Then, vacuum up any remaining residue from the site.
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Ceramic Tiles And Lino
Ceramic tiles are easy to clean. You just need to wipe the pee off the surface, rinse thoroughly, and mop up the remaining liquid. You can use baking soda to get rid of the odor. But if your ceramic tiles arent glazed or the pee spreads to the grout, things can get pretty challenging.
In that case:
- Use clean water and paper towels to mop up the pee.
- Make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Rub it into the grout.
- Take a clean dry cloth or more paper towels to wipe off the paste.
- Rinse thoroughly and sponge up all the liquid. Make sure you are using a pet-safe cleaner during rinsing.
- Alternatively, you can also go for the final wash using bleach and water solution. You can prepare it by mixing one part bleach with eight parts water.
The above cleaning procedure is safe for Lino floors as well.
Still Smell Cat Urine
If your laundry has come out smelling fresh, but you still detect the lingering odor of cat urine in your home, you’ll need to perform some detective work. It’s possible the pet has marked floors, furniture, or other areas in your home.
Arm yourself with a blacklight. Most blacklights work better in complete darkness, so work cautiously. Use the light to scan walls, floors, baseboards, furniture, and any other surfaces. Hold the light close to the surface for best resultsurine stains will glow fluorescent white. Use chalk or sticky note paper to mark the areas where the blacklight reveals stains.
Once you’ve identified the soiled areas, use an odor-removal product to clean the area. After thoroughly cleaning, you can enjoy a freshly-scented home once more.
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How Do You Dry A Mattress After Wetting The Bed
To dry a mattress after someone wets the bed, start by blotting the area with a dry towel and applying a solution of vinegar or baking soda. While it can be tempting to speed up the process , youll need to allow time for the mattress to air dry which may require sleeping in an alternate spot for the rest of the night.
Sprinkle Some Baking Soda And Let It Dry
Sprinkle about half-cup baking soda into the wet area of the mattress this will help to draw out moisture and pull the odor.
And after all of these steps, you need to dry your mattress fully for 2 to 3 days.
And if the weather is great you can leave the mattress outside for better results and you need to keep the standing fan constantly directed to the affected area of the mattress.
After waiting for 2 to 3 days, use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum up the baking soda and use a vacuum cleaner until the mattress become dry and clean.
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Pet Stain Cleaning Supplies You’ll Need To Get Started
The products you’ll need depends on your personal preferences, so let’s explore two of the best options for cleaning pet stains from a mattress.
You could use a DIY 50/50 solution of water and vinegar on pet urine. However, many experts recommend enzyme-based cleaners instead. Caitlin Sole, Senior Associate Home Editor with BHG.com, shares her tips for cleaning up pet messes. Sole relies on enzyme-based cleaners for any stains her Great Pyrenees leaves. “he enzymes work to break down the urine to eliminate odors and stains, whereas vinegar might remove the stain but mask any odors,” Sole says.
Enzyme-based cleaners work on other pet stains and on a variety of surfaces as well. Just be sure to read the label’s instructions before use, Sole cautions.
Sole recommends Puracy Pet Urine Eliminator for getting a deeper clean, and Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator for spot treatments.
Aside from a cleaning solution, you’ll also need absorbent paper towels and a vacuum cleaner.
How To Remove Pee Urine Stains From Clothing And Furniture
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Accidents happen!
Whether it was a little one who peed the bed or a pet who couldn’t make it until the walk, TODAY Home asked a team of cleaning experts to share how professionals would tackle this problem and clean urine stains from:
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Avoid Accidents With Pet Repellents
Even after youve successfully cleaned your mattress, your pet may be able to smell traces of the urines chemical footprint that are imperceptible to you. Since many animals will return to places theyve peed before to pee again, its wise to use a pet-friendly repellent to prevent future accidents. You can make an inexpensive, all-natural pet deterrent by mixing 1.5 cups of cold water, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, and about 20 drops of any citrus-scented essential oil. You should also consider purchasing a mattress protector, which will defend your bed against future accidents as well as dust, dander, and other contaminants.
If you want to prevent future accidents on your bed, you might want to consider a pup-friendly dog bed for your furry friend. Dog beds with a removable cover make cleaning your pets sleep spot a breeze, so you can toss it in the washing machine and continue with your sleep, worry-free.
Carbon Aka Activated Charcoal
Activated Charcoal is incredibly effective at absorbing odors and other noxious chemicals. This is why carbon filters are effectively used in many high-end kitty litter boxes to help address odor issues that may arise. There are also activated charcoal sashays that can be hung on door handles or hooks that can also help absorb ambient smells that may be accumulating in a particular room. Activated Carbon works like velcro, with chemical compounds latching onto tiny pores on the surface of the carbon. These pores increase the surface area, which in turn, allow a substantial amount of compounds to attach to individual particles of charcoal.
In order to get cat urine smell out of, lets say a mattress, with activated charcoal in an effective way, it is recommended to blot away any liquid you can and then cover the stain with a thin cotton cloth that you do not mind staining or that is black in color. Then, place a relatively thick layer of activated charcoal on top and letting sit for at least several hours, or ideally, a few days.
Despite effectively absorbing cat pee urine, activated carbon is not without it own potential to stain or cause messes . Due to staining, using carbon would not be an effective option for washing soft goods in order to remove cat pee smell from clothes or sheets.
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S For Removing Cat Urine Smell From Your Clothes
Here are some steps to follow for getting rid of cat pee smell.
Dont mix your clothes. Cat pee odor lingers. Dont throw your things with pee into the washing machine with other clothes, as it can make your other clothes smell, too.
Regular products can only go so far. Regular laundry detergent as well as other typical cleaning supplies, such as baking soda, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide, can make the smell go away, but this temporary. Some people recommend adding baking soda or vinegar to the wash. However, because these products dont remove the uric acid, the odor can return again.
Remove as much urine as possible. First, try to blot up all the pee before applying anything to the clothes. Dont scrub it, just dab with a paper towel or old cloth to soak up the urine until its no longer wet. You can use an ultraviolet light to help find any stains that you cant see, as urine will glow in the dark.
Pretreat with enzyme cleaners. Enzymes are proteins that help to speed up chemical reactions. Enzyme cleaners break down uric acid in cat pee into carbon dioxide and ammonia, two gases which easily evaporate. Look for products that are specifically made for use on pet odors and urine. Some of these can be used on different surfaces, including fabrics, but be sure to follow directions and test on a small area first, especially on more delicate materials.
Continued
Why Does My Cat Keep Peeing On My Mattress
Though cats can reduce stress, when they urinate where they are not supposed to, they can certainly increase stress as well. You might be faced with a pee spot on your bed and find yourself wondering if your cat is trying to spite you or if you have a defective model they arent and you dont.
There are a lot of reasons that a cat might use your mattress to relieve themselves, but actively trying to drive you insane is not one of those reasons. So, first things first: take a deep breath.
There are several medical issues that can cause cats to have a hard time controlling their bladder. Kidney stones, bladder infections, diabetes, arthritis, urinary tract infections, and hyperthyroidism are among the most common health issues that may be causing your cat to have accidents.
Dietary changes can also cause incontinence. If this accident is not an isolated incident, if your cat seems to be experiencing any other pain, or if their habits have changed, talk to your veterinarian about your kittys health.
Social and environmental changes can cause cats to feel stressed and anxious, which may also result in urination outside of the litter box. If there have been major changes within your household, such as a new baby, pet, or partner, your cat may be feeling a bit anxious and forgetting their bathroom behavior. Make sure your cat has a space where they feel safe and secure and that they are getting enough attention.
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Tips For Cleaning Cat Pee
Common cleaning tricks don’t necessarily apply to cleaning cat pee because the odor can be especially strong and difficult to eliminate. Keep these tips in mind to avoid making the smell worse.
- Avoid heat. Heat will set the smell, so never use hot water to clean cat pee. Wash all affected laundry on cold and do not put it in the dryer, unless using a no-heat cycle. Don’t use a steam cleaner on carpet.
- Don’t use bleach or any ammonia-based cleaner. Bleach and ammonia smell similar to cat urine, and your cat may be encouraged to pee on the same spot again.
- Don’t wash clothing or towels that contain cat pee with other items. This may spread the smell to the rest of the load of laundry.
- Don’t rub fabrics when cleaning them. Always blot fabrics and never rub, since rubbing can push urine deeper into the fibers.
How To Get Urine Smell Out Of Fabrics
Accidents happen, whether it was your three year old who wet the bed or your dog who temporarily forgot about his housetraining lessons.
Urine stains are not only unsightly, but they can also have a really bad smell. Thatâs why itâs important to be prepared when they happen, so you can get rid of them before they set in the fabrics and cause even more unpleasantness.
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