I have a kitten that recently started going outside the box.

1. Anyone have a good concoction for getting the smell out of the carpet?

2. Anyone have a good idea on how to break this habit? He never used to go outside the litter box, but now it seems like an occasional thing that he does

10/17/2008 10:28:11 AM

Quote :

"Anyone have a good concoction for getting the smell out of the carpet"

install new carpet and padding....cat piss odor is damn near impossible to remove from fabrics. Just another reason not to have a cat.

10/17/2008 10:29:57 AM

1. You probably can't get it out. When my aunt and uncle moved into a house probably 10 years ago or so the previous owners had a cat that pissed all over the upstairs carpet. When we were taking the carpet out the padding underneath was damp with cat piss. It was a horrible smell and I nearly threw up.

2.


[Edited on October 17, 2008 at 10:31 AM. Reason : previous owners]

10/17/2008 10:30:42 AM

Try changing the kittens food.

But there's some enzyme based stuff that you can buy (i knot vets have it, but probably pet stores) that do a good job, but you have to SOAK the area in it.

10/17/2008 10:31:25 AM

I have one cat who does this occasionally, and it's because the litter box isn't up to her standards. She's just very picky I guess. She always picks a nice pile of my clothes to pee on thankfully, so that I can wash them and the smell goes away. If I catch her peeing elsewhere, I go clean out the litter box, then I shove her nose in the piss, put her in the litter box and shove her nose in it, then leave her be. Then she pees in the litter box and all is well with life.

Good luck with the carpet thing.

[Edited on October 17, 2008 at 10:33 AM. Reason : d]

10/17/2008 10:31:32 AM

How old is the kitten? If it is getting older and you haven't had him neutered, he could be marking territory. I wouldn't expect that to be an easy habit to break. My cats recently got fixed, and when we were trying to decide when to have it done, the vet bascially told me to watch out for him pissing all over the place, and if it started happening, to go ahead and get him neutered before it became too much of a habit.

I cannot verify this, i just know it is what my vet told me.

10/17/2008 10:37:23 AM

you're going to have to replace the entire building.

cat piss is harder to remove than radioactive waste.

10/17/2008 10:41:24 AM

Definitely make sure the litter box is clean, as previously stated.

You also need to make sure your cat doesn't have a UTI. If it's painful for him to pee in the litter box, he begins to associate the litter box with pain. So, just watch him when he's peeing a few times and see if he's meowing or acting like he hurts.

Another option is kitty litter that is designed to draw the cat to it. It's supposed to guarantee your cat uses the litter box. I think Petsmart sells it, it's called "Cat Attract."

[Edited on October 17, 2008 at 11:11 AM. Reason : name]

10/17/2008 11:01:09 AM

'Nature's Miracle' does a pretty good job. You can get that at Petco. And if he's peeing in one particular area, buy some 'No Go'. It's not an absolute way to make them stop it, but it helps. I had a cat that liked to go behind the couch. I tried everything, then used a lot of Nature's Miracle and No Go, but it didn't work. So, now there's a bunch of blown up balloons behind my couch because they're terrified of them and won't go back there.

And it is likely that he's marking his territory, or mad at you.
Sorta long story...
Grits pulled that crap on me a few weeks ago. We've had him for about 2 years, and the day we got him he started using the litter box. So it was a huge surprise when did it. We were all sitting in the living room and my gun was in the floor in a soft case, and he climbs up on it, squats, and starts peeing on it! I realized what he was doing, beat that ass, and threw him in the litter box. After that, the butthead peed on my bed! I have a thick pad thing on my bed, so we caught it before the mattress got wet and washed everything. I knew it had to have something to do with me because it was only MY stuff he peed on.
Note: He's been staying with my parents for about 6 months now, and I've not been bringing him to Raleigh with me.
I think he was mad at me for not taking him with me and leaving him for weeks at a time. So, I took him to Raleigh with me the night he peed on my bed. He came with me for about 4 weeks before the landlord told us we couldn't have pets here. And ever since then, he's been perfectly fine.

[Edited on October 17, 2008 at 11:12 AM. Reason : ]

10/17/2008 11:01:41 AM

if it is still damp, you can neutralize it with plain vinegar straight

10/17/2008 11:13:37 AM

I second the Nature's Miracle spray. I use the orange kind because it smells less bad than the classic Nature's Miracle. I think you can get it at any pet store - I get mine from Petsmart. You can also use Oxy Clean on top of the Nature's Miracle. That combination works pretty well. Cat pee is really really hard to get rid of though. Thank god we don't have carpets here.

I also agree with figuring out what the kitten's problem is. Cats typically don't want to go to the bathroom in a place that they can't cover up with sand unless there is a problem. If he is going in the middle of the room or on furniture, it could be UTI and he's trying to get your attention. He'll choose a new spot to pee in every time because every place he goes, hurts, so he associates the pain with where he peed. It could also be that the litter box is too full or he hates the litter you're using. If he is going in corners or behind furniture, trying to hide it, it could be a behavioral problem or he may be pissed at you. UTI is sort of rare in a male kitten but you never know - take him to the vet just to rule that out.

I had this problem with a cat a couple months ago who was just plain pissed off at me. I'm 8 months pregnant and I think she was pissed that I was spending more time setting up the nursery than playing with her. I think cats also have a sense about pregnant women in general. We changed her litter type, played with her a little more, and the problem went away. Just to be safe though, I sent her to live with my sister, because I figured once the baby actually arrived, I'd be dealing with piss in the crib and bassinet. Cats are vindictive little creatures. Good luck!

10/17/2008 11:23:54 AM

cat piss is the reason my cats are now exclusively outdoor animals. When I bought my house, I did not want it to get nasty with piss like my apartment carpet got (before I caged the cats indoors)

10/17/2008 11:41:04 AM

that's interesting. i've never had any of the cats i've owned, do what people have been describing. they've just been the nicest animals ever.

if it's a large area. pull up the carpet, pull the pad, treat the carpet, replace the pad.

small area, soak the area in enzyme based cleaner, let sit, pat dry. let it air dry.

hit it again later after it's been dry for a few days.

i've got a spot cleaning machine and it works great to clean up spills or excess liquid from carpet.

10/17/2008 12:16:55 PM

i had two cats, kept the boxes clean, both were fixed. they still peed on the carpets... don't know why. found a good solution.

10/17/2008 12:29:39 PM

My cats pee outside their litter box on occasion, and it's a mystery. Most the time it's because they have a UTI, but other times they seem to do it for no reason. Although one time I think my cat did it because I'd had the other cat at the vet for several days and he wasn't happy that I brought him back

10/17/2008 1:31:26 PM

burlap sack and a body of water

10/17/2008 1:33:29 PM

^http://www.brentroad.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=544775

10/17/2008 1:51:31 PM

sometimes cats that inappropriately urinate have a UTI or a hormonal issue (diabetes, thyroid). if nothing else works, i would suggest bringing your cat to a vet for some diagnostics.

try covering the litterbox with a hood, try different textures/smells, keep the box immaculate, try cat pheremones (http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755197) etc.

nature's miracle is probably your best bet for getting the smell out.

[Edited on October 17, 2008 at 2:02 PM. Reason : is your cat neutered?]

10/17/2008 2:00:05 PM

fuck. cats.

10/17/2008 3:35:14 PM

^^yeah while he is trying all of that his floor is going to get more and more piss soaked in.

10/17/2008 4:16:39 PM

I have a kitten that recently started going outside the box.

1. Anyone have a good concoction for getting the smell out of the carpet?
- Simple Solution is a product that I've heard works well

2. Anyone have a good idea on how to break this habit? He never used to go outside the litter box, but now it seems like an occasional thing that he does
- Probably just a kitten thing, so I wouldn't get too worried, but when might cat started doing this I had his urine & bloodwork checked, & he had crystals & other stuff going on that could have led to him getting blocked up which can kill a male cat pretty fast.

One trick I was told to do with kittens (& with adult cats any time after you move) is occasionally just pick them up and set them down in the litter box.

10/17/2008 4:31:18 PM

Capture Pet Stain and Odor works well

10/17/2008 4:54:45 PM

Quote :

"OUTSIDE THE BOX"

10/17/2008 5:27:38 PM

If anyone has the same suggestions for hardwood floors Im all ears

and just curious, but how does

Quote :

"I go clean out the litter box, then I shove her nose in the piss, put her in the litter box and shove her nose in it, then leave her be."

accomplish anything at all?

10/17/2008 6:04:19 PM

Thanks to all that gave suggestions! I'm gonna buy some nature's miracle and oxy clean today and give it a try.

As far as diagnosing the problem goes, here's what I think. He's a male kitten at about 4.5 months old and he still has his balls. This problem has started occurring in between the time I set up his appt. to get neutered and the actual surgery which was scheduled for Nov. 3. I've since pleaded my case to the vet and he will be getting neutered on Wednesday. He's an indoor only cat, but he still gets out every couple of days or so sneaking out closing doors, and the windows downstairs are usually open. I feel pretty confident in saying that it's just marking his territory. The few places he has peed on the carpet he usually comes back to once and a while and paws at the carpet like he's trying to cover it up, so I don't think it's malicious/spiteful but that's just my thoughts. He goes to the vet often and he's a healthy kitten so a rare UTI is unlikely.

10/18/2008 7:53:46 PM

if you have a yard, i'd say let him go outside while you watch him (to make sure he doesn't run to the street or anything).

Cats can learn easily not to play around cars, and stay in a yard, and they're a lot happier when they can climb trees and stuff.

10/18/2008 8:04:04 PM

Hmmm whatever you do that works, PLEASE let me know.



My former roommate had a cat and she & him stayed here for like 1.5 years and she NEVER cleaned his litter box, so he'd use the bathroom elsewhere throughout the apt. She also would kick him out at night and keep him locked out of her room (where his box was). STUPID FUCKIN CUNT.

Anyway, long story short, we kept buying cat odor sprays and cleaners (along with candles and incense and sprays to help in the meantime) and NOTHING worked. My mama came all the way up here and shapoo'd the carpets...DIDN'T WORK. So after we compelled her to move out, we finally bitched so much at the office that we got new carpet in the entire apartment. When they came to replace it, I had them to KILZ the floor (the concrete underneath the padding and carpet), and TO THIS DAY, WE STILL SMELL CAT PISS in that corner by her room. GRRRRRRR!!! So ultimately I don't think NOTHING works. I think it got in the floor baseboard. Maybe that's why it stinks sometimes.

10/18/2008 10:55:23 PM

^ cat piss has a unique chemical structure.

You HAVE to use an enzymatic cleaner. Bleach nor any other conventional chemical will work.

10/18/2008 11:05:13 PM

Yeah, but what should I use?!?!?

10/19/2008 12:09:46 AM

i'm telling you,

tear it down and rebuild.

nothing else will work.

10/19/2008 12:15:41 AM

^ I'm pretty much to that point. Grrrrr! That damn cat! I should've killed it before it had a CHANCE to piss on MY living room floor.

10/19/2008 3:22:02 AM

I know that the capture spray works on dog urine. if you go that route ^ use the carpet padding that has the spill blocking film on top. It will aid in odor removal if it ever happens again. Shampooing isn't doing anything because the urine isn't in the carpet anymore, your padding is most likely ruined.

[Edited on October 19, 2008 at 3:36 AM. Reason : .]

10/19/2008 3:34:44 AM

If it works on dog urine, there's a snowball's chance in hell that it will work on cat urine. Shit is serious stuff.

10/19/2008 3:59:10 AM

if you replaced the carpet, padding, and sealed the floor and still smell it then they forgot to replace the tacking strips.


piss soaks into the wood.


makes sense because you would have two strips coming together in the corner= more wood to soak it up.


ozone machines work okay as well as the enzymes previously mentioned.

[Edited on October 19, 2008 at 8:11 AM. Reason : f]

10/19/2008 8:10:59 AM

yeah the smell of cat piss pretty much permeates the carpet and down into the floorboard

I owed my landlord a whole lot of money because our cats were retarded

10/19/2008 12:11:04 PM

Quote :

"if you replaced the carpet, padding, and sealed the floor and still smell it then they forgot to replace the tacking strips. piss soaks into the wood. makes sense because you would have two strips coming together in the corner= more wood to soak it up. ozone machines work okay as well as the enzymes previously mentioned."

Yeah, well I live in an apt and couldn't really say anything about what they did. I only made sure they KILZ'd it though. But I figured it had permeated into the wood slits and the wall baseboard. And of course I can't replace that, so I guess we just have to deal with it. But it's not bad, and it's a corner rarely used. Only time I smell it is if my roommate or I go outside on the patio. Dah well.

10/19/2008 3:24:28 PM

Let this be a lesson for you.

10/19/2008 4:10:47 PM

"That's gonna smell"

10/19/2008 5:17:49 PM

thats why a cat should live outside imo...

[Edited on October 20, 2008 at 12:19 PM. Reason : .]

10/20/2008 12:18:33 PM

^ Agreed!

10/20/2008 3:23:51 PM

^ my cat goes outside when it needs to poop/pee.

The except is if its sick for some reason (it had allergies) then it will try to pee inside, but it meows very loudly in a weird way before it does so. If you get to it before it does its business you can chuck it outside.

10/20/2008 3:53:41 PM

This is why I'm glad I firmly established myself as GOD when my cat was very young. He won't put a foot out of place with me around.

10/20/2008 5:57:38 PM

Good move getting the neuter date bumped up.

I remember when Grits was a small guy he started understanding what his harbls were, and he'd cry loudly and try to spray, but couldn't figure it out. One night (still had not successfully sprayed anything at this point), I had just turned off the lights and my bf and I laid down, Grits jumped on the bed like he always did when it was time to sleep, but I felt him walking around on me weird-like. So I just had a feeling, made my bf jump up and turn on the lights, just in time for him to try to SPRAY ME, BUT GOT THE COMFORTER INSTEAD! I was LIVID! I just knew what he was trying to do, and got my comforter up to keep him from getting me. We had him neutered just a few days later.
I just don't understand why Grits always does stuff to ME and not anyone else! I mean, he's tried to spray me, peed on my gun case, peed on my bed, etc. and its not because he don't like me, I think its becasue he's trying to mark me as his or something. I mean, he's my buddy! He sleeps with me on the regular, he opens the bathroom door when I'm in there, he's always near ME when he won't have anything to do with anyone else.

We found 4 kittens the other week, and they're about 6-7 weeks old now. I've got them litter box trained completely already! Whoever adopts these little boogers will have no problem with them.

Anyhow, sorry for the tangent! Hope you find something that works for the smell!

10/20/2008 10:41:32 PM

Quote :

"Bleach nor any other conventional chemical will work."

You can use bleach to get the smell of cat piss out of stuff, but you have to use a metric shitton, and let it soak for at least a day or two.

I forget what my cat had peed on, but I did this, and it worked. Clearly, this only works for stuff you can put in the washing machine, though

10/20/2008 10:52:25 PM

Quote :

"Bleach nor any other conventional chemical will work."

vinegar totally works, but you have to let it sit there for a while

if it is still damp, then the vinegar will neutralize the urine

10/20/2008 11:09:02 PM

^ but then everything will smell like vinegar

the enzymatic cleaners evaporate to a neutral smell

10/20/2008 11:33:50 PM

Nature's Miracle. May have to apply it a few times

10/21/2008 1:59:43 AM

First off... cats suck.

Second, try this.

10/21/2008 6:08:42 AM

I've tried this stuff before, some cats just don't care. It's like they just know that spot is for pissing on, regardless of the smell.

10/21/2008 10:35:31 AM

10/22/2008 10:52:46 AM