At some point or another, every cat parent will experience the unique frustration of smelling cat urine in the area but being unable to determine its exact location. It can be downright vexing to try to figure out where on earth your cat peed. Here are a few handy life hacks that can help you solve the mystery.
Wash all of the linens
When trouble shooting, you should always eliminate the most common scenarios first. Cats who are experiencing improper elimination or litter box avoidance are usually uncomfortable for some reason. The root of the problem may be behavioral or medical, but in both cases, your cat will look for a more comfortable place to do his or her business.
Usually, the most comfortable surfaces in your home are blankets, pillows, and clothing with a familiar scent. So, strip your bed, wash any dirty clothes in the hamper, clean the rug or carpet, and even wash the cat beds. Don’t forget throw your shoes in the wash, too! More often than not, you will have found and eliminated the odor.
Check underneath of everything
Still smell cat pee? You may have to get down on your hands and knees for this one. You would be surprised how often cat pee can trickle behind hard to see places, such as beneath the washer and dryer or under baseboard heaters. Don’t forget to also look beneath of piles of clothing, inside of bags, and in your cat’s favorite hiding places. Turn over objects that could have fallen throughout the day, because your cat may have kicked something on top of their urine to cover it.
Go high tech
When all else fails, take technology into your own hands. You can buy a blacklight flashlight from internet retailers such as Amazon and Ebay. The there is a compound in dried cat pee that will glow a green color under a blacklight. Shine it everywhere, including on walls where cat pee may be sprayed or splattered so thin that you wouldn’t have otherwise noticed it. Keep in mind that it only works on dried cat pee, though. If the stain is fresh, you can probably find it by feeling around for wet or sticky surfaces. You can use a glove if you’d rather not touch the urine directly.
Is your cat experiencing litter box aversion? Be sure to let your pet sitter know. Our pet sitters are extra vigilant when it comes to keeping your home as clean as the day you left.
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Candace Elise Hoes is a pet sitter and blogger at Katie’s Kitty. She is a graduate of the MFA Writing Program at California College of the Arts.
photo by Jessica Fiess-Hill on flickr