A Guide to Selecting a Cat Urine Eliminator
If you’re a cat owner, you’re probably enthralled by how resourceful and intelligent they can be. With patience, you can train them to use a litter box. And some owners even succeed in toilet training them! But until you reach that level of discipline, which can take weeks or even months, your cat might be involved in some embarrassing accidents. They also have an instinct to mark their “territory” by spraying it with urine. And male, unneutered cats can have an even more pungent odor, due to testosterone in their urine! Fortunately, there are lots of products that can break down cat urine and eliminate the smell as well.
While you can try DIY solutions of vinegar and baking soda to neutralize the smell of cat urine, it may not be so easy if the stain has penetrated into fabric. We’ll see that there are enzymatic, bacterial, and inorganic products that will break down and eliminate cat urine, feces, and vomit. And many of these products use citrus or essential oils, to lend your house a fresh scent. These products are usually free from caustic ingredients such as chlorine or ammonia, so they’re safe to use around pets or children. Some of them are even used in kennels and pet shelters, because they’re so effective in eliminating odors even from litter boxes and pet carriers.
We’ll study some of the features of the products in the Best Reviews Guide list of cat urine eliminators. They eliminate the source of the odor, not just mask it, so that your home will smell fresh!
FAQ
How do enzymatic cleaners work against cat urine?
Enzymatic cleaners typically contain two enzymes:
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Urease, which reacts with the urea found in cat urine. Urea is a component of urine responsible for the characteristic ammonia-like smell. The enzyme starts breaking down the urea molecules into carbon dioxide and ammonia.
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Urase, which reacts with uric acid, another component of cat urine that can cause persistent odors and stains. Urase breaks down the uric acid into carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water-soluble salts. This process helps eliminate the odor and prevents the formation of stubborn stains.
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Enzymatic cleaners may also contain other enzymes or bacteria to break down other organic waste matter. That makes them effective against feces or vomit.
What’s the best way to use a cat urine eliminator?
The method of application will differ between products, but the makers of Kinderbean Dog and Cat Urine Stain and Odor Eliminator recommend the following:
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Soak up any excess urine using paper towels.
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Apply the product to the stain, saturating your carpet, but not making it too wet.
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Rub the solution into the stain, using the bottom of the bottle.
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Cover the area you treated with paper towels, and leave it for 24 hours.
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Afterwards, you can vacuum the area to pick up any remaining residue.
Types of Cat Urine Eliminators
There are several types of cat urine eliminators available on the market. These products are designed to remove the odor and stains associated with cat urine. Here are some common types of cat urine eliminators:
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Enzymatic cleaners: Enzymatic cleaners are specifically formulated to break down the proteins in cat urine. These cleaners contain enzymes that digest organic waste such as urine, feces, and vomit, and eliminate the odor. They are effective at removing both the smell and the stain. An example of an enzymatic cleaner is the Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator. It’s guaranteed to be safe around pets and children.
Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator
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Oxygen-based cleaners: Oxygen-based cleaners use oxygen bleach, a safer alternative to chlorine bleach. When exposed to water, oxygen bleach releases oxygenated bubbles to lift and remove stains and odors. Oxygen-based cleaners are thus often sold as powder or liquid formulas that need to be mixed with water. These cleaners can be effective at removing cat urine stains and odors. One popular oxygen-based urine cleaner is the Bissell Professional Pet Urine Eliminator. It’s intended to be used in deep-cleaning machines for carpets. It’s so powerful, it’s even effective against skunk odor!