Sprays for Cat Urine Stains & Odor Removal

You Mark the Spot

• You'll have to locate and clean up Hank's messes to encourage him to keep it to his box. You can follow your nose by crawling around on all fours on your floor, or you can take the simpler route of using a black light. Pet stores and online outlets carry black lights, which show all sorts of stains. In a darkened room, hold the light a few inches above the surface and look for urine sprays, which are usually in a thin stream, or indiscriminate urine stains, which tend to be in puddles. Mark the stain, either with tape or outlining it in chalk, because you won't see it in regular light.

Sprays for Stains and Odor

• There's no shortage of commercially made products for cleaning up after Hank. Nature's Miracle is a very popular stain and odor removing choice among pet owners. Other well-regarded brands include Urine Off, Simple Green, Stink Free, Nature's Secret Weapon and Bac Out. Avoid products using ammonia, as they'll make the urine odor stronger, potentially luring Hank back to the scene of the crime.

Enzymes for Stains and Odors

• Enzymatic cleaners, such as Bac Out and Nature's Miracle, work by breaking down compounds in the odor and are very effective in dealing with cat urine stains. Enzymes aren't living organisms, but act as catalysts and target the specific problem -- in this case, Hank's urine -- to "eat" the urine, leaving the rest of the area clean. Removing the odor will minimize the chance of Hank returning to the scene of the crime for future deposits. Look for products that neutralize odors if you want more than stain removal.

Using the Sprays

• Each product has its own set of instructions for use, so read the label thoroughly. Test for colorfastness at a small, inconspicuous area of the soiled fabric. Generally, if you're dealing with a fresh urine stain, soak up as much of the urine as you can with paper towels, blotting the stain; don't press hard, as you'll end up forcing the urine deeper into the rug or fabric. If the object of Hank's affection was something that can be laundered, it will be fairly easy to take care of stain and odor removal, if you've found it quickly.

Homemade Options

• If Hank is usually very fastidious in his litter box habits and had a good old-fashioned accident, you may not want to buy a bottle of cleaner just for one use. There are homemade options that can see you through an isolated incident or two just fine. A spray of 1 part distilled white vinegar to 2 parts warm water works well; mist the area over the urine after blotting it with paper towels. A cocktail of 15 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, 2 tablespoons baking soda and 2 squirts of liquid hand soap mixed together is also effective, after testing a spot for colorfastness from the hydrogen peroxide.

Prevention is Best

• If Hank's been urinating everywhere but his litter box, he should see a vet. It's not unusual for cats with urinary tract problems to bypass the box. If he gets a clean bill of health and he's neutered, try moving litter boxes where he's been urinating. His litter box should be large enough for him to comfortably take care of business, and kept clean and fresh.