Cats
bring their owners a huge amount of joy and comfort. Simply watching
a cat explore your garden, or curl up in a sun-warmed patch of floor
can flood you positive feelings. Unfortunately, there is a darker
side to pet ownership. When you’ve cared for a cat for any length
of time, you’ll have experienced the unexpected gifts a cat can
leave for you that require a hasty clean up.
Today
we’re having a look at this issue - how you clean up after your cat
effectively, and what you can do to prevent your cat making these
messes in the first place.
Warning
Signs
If
your cat is normally very neat, burying its waste in the garden or
the litter tray then finding mess around the house - especially loose
or watery stools - could be a sign something deeper is wrong. Rather
than just being annoyed or complaining ‘my
cat has diarrhea’ to other sympathetic pet owners,
keep an eye on the situation. If it continues, you could have a more
serious situation that requires a trip to the vet and a change of
diet or medication!
Cleaning
Up
Once
you’ve dealt with the possibility that you have a seriously ill
cat, you still need to deal with the mess it’s left behind. When
you have a pet it’s important to have a cleaning tool kit so you’re
ready. Make sure you have a stock of:
-
Paper towel
-
Soap and sponges or cloths
-
Cleaner spray
When
you first notice the affected area, get to work immediately - the
longer you leave it, the worse
the problem will get, and the more your cat will be tempted to return
to the scene of the crime. Quick cleaning prevents them from
establishing your carpet as an acceptable toilet location!
If
your cat has left a puddle of pee, soak up as much urine as possible
with paper towel and throw it away - in the same place as you’d
dispose of their litter tray. Wrap stools and vomit with paper towel
and throw them away in the same way - be careful as cat faeces can
contain parasites
that are especially harmful to pregnant women. Wear gloves at all
times and don’t do this at all if you’re
pregnant.
Soak
and scrub the area with cloths or sponges soaked in soapy water. If
you’re lucky, this could be all you need to do. If staining or
odours remain after this step, you need to bring out bigger guns.
When
you’re choosing a cleaner, choose a non-toxic, natural one -
however annoying it is to clean up their pee, you don’t want to
poison your cat! Enzyme neutralising cleaners are some of the best options, as
they break down the compounds that cause a smell.
You’ll
need to leave the area to dry - try to keep your cat away from it
during this time, while leaving it exposed to the air. Covering it in
an upturned box or laundry basket will allow it to dry while also
creating a suitable barrier.
This
should eliminate both stain and smell, and make sure your cat doesn’t
return to the same location, meaning you’ll have less clearing up
to do in future!
CONVERSATION