Ways to effectively eliminate the smell of cat urine in shoes

Despite the fact that cats are the most popular and cleanest pets and quite quickly get used to a certain location of their toilet, situations periodically arise when traces of their vital activity can be found in the most unexpected places. This often applies to different types of shoes. Such a nuisance can be caused by both psychological stress and problems with the cat’s well-being. The consequences of such an incident require immediate elimination in order to avoid a reoccurrence, as well as to preserve the appearance of the product as much as possible. There are several ways to rid shoes of an unpleasant odor and give them their original appearance.

Preparing shoes for processing

To achieve the best results in eliminating unpleasant odors, before treating shoes, it is recommended to use paper napkins or toilet paper to get rid of as much urine as possible on the surface. If the mark is inside the product, use soda or salt. It is important to remember that using a hair dryer to remove excess moisture can lead to deformation of the shoes.

Before you start processing the product, it is worth testing the effect of the product on a small area. It is not advisable to continue using the chosen method if stains appear or the color of the shoes changes. It is also recommended to avoid direct contact of the cleaning product with mucous membranes or skin.

Identifying and eliminating the reasons why a cat shits in shoes

Some cat owners are faced with an unpleasant problem, because the pet relieves itself on/in the owner's shoes.
Reasons that force the animal to relieve itself in shoes:

• disease;
• dissatisfaction with the tray;
• territory marking, sexual hunting;
• response to changing circumstances.

In the first case, the behavior is associated with the appearance of urinary system diseases in an adult cat: urolithiasis (UCD), cystitis.

The solution is to consult a veterinarian.

Your pet may be unhappy with the tray if:

• the cat litter box is too small or the height of the sides is too high/low;
• the litter or cleaning products used for cleaning emits an unpleasant odor for the pet;
• the tray is located next to the washing machine or in another noisy place;
• The cat may also refuse to relieve itself in the litter box if it is not clean enough.

The way out of the situation is to replace the tray and filler, moving it to a quiet and secluded place.

In the case of sexual hunting, the cat applies its scent to the thing, guided by instincts . To prevent this behavior, the cat should be spayed/sterilized at the age of 6-7 months.

The way out of the situation is to replace the tray and filler

If you do this later, there is a risk that the animal will develop the habit of marking its territory. To protect your shoes from damage, you will have to put them in a closet or hard-to-reach place.

Inappropriate defecation may be a reaction to moving, a change in the number of family members of the owner, the emotional situation, the introduction of new objects, or physical violence. To stop unwanted behavior, you should pay more attention to your pet, pet it, and play.

Ways to remove cat urine odor

Steps to effectively remove cat urine odor from shoes must be done judiciously and promptly. In this situation, water alone will not be enough to solve the problem; the use of auxiliary substances will be required. For example, a vinegar solution can save light leather products, and iodine will effectively eliminate the problem of shoes made of black or dark leather. A material such as suede tends to quickly deform, so when processing it you should be extremely careful and use weak solutions of potassium permanganate or mild glycerin-based soap.

The most convenient way to eliminate unpleasant odors is textile shoes. A delicate wash or laundry soap will help out here. If the pet has chosen a fur product for its offense, it is worth resorting to special cleaning products; a solution of vinegar, citric acid or potassium permanganate may also be suitable here.

There are certain difficulties associated with neutralizing the smell of cat urine, which are directly related to the composition of the biological fluid. For example, uric acid, which is part of it, forms a characteristic unpleasant odor, urochromes give the corresponding color, and urea causes a viscous-sticky structure after drying on the surface.

The crystals that form the structure of uric acid have properties that allow them not to interact with alcohol and not dissolve in water, so they can only be neutralized with the help of sulfuric acid or alkaline compounds. It is quite difficult and almost impossible to remove stubborn old marks; in such cases, the shoes continue to smell of urine even after several treatments.

Using special cleaning products

Professional cleaning products to eliminate cat urine odor can be purchased at pet supply stores. As a rule, they are distributed in the form of sprays and can vary in composition and cost. Products based on natural substances are often harmless, however, they may not provide the desired result, while effective chemical compounds included in sprays may be unsafe and require concentration during operation.

It is almost impossible to remove ingrained traces of cat urine using available household products, so for these cases they resort to special odor eliminators. When using them, it is extremely important to adhere to the appropriate instructions for use, then you can achieve the desired result: the unwanted odor will be eliminated, and the uric acid crystals will dissolve due to special elements.

Use of neutralizing household products

There are several ways to remove the smell of cat urine from the surface of shoes:

• Citric acid solution or lemon juice;
• Alcohol or vodka;
• Hydrogen peroxide;
• Alkaline soap;
• Baking soda;
• Iodine solution;
• Potassium permanganate;
• Vinegar;
• Camphor or boric alcohol.

As a rule, most of the above remedies can be found in everyday life, however, the characteristics of each substance should be taken into account in order to avoid creating another unpleasant situation. For example, lemon juice can ruin suede shoes, and treatment with an iodine solution will lead to stains on light-colored items.

Washing shoes

This method is suitable for processing textile products. At the first stage of eliminating an unpleasant odor, the problem areas of the surface are thoroughly rubbed with laundry soap, after which the shoes are left for some time until the product is completely absorbed. Then the product is washed in the machine on a delicate cycle, which will preserve its appearance as much as possible, preventing high water temperatures and high rotation speeds of the drum. You should dry your sneakers or slippers in the fresh air, and to achieve a better effect, it is recommended to repeat the operation.

It is worth noting that using alcohol to treat washed shoes will prevent your pet from using them as a toilet, while the strong smell of ethanol will quickly dissipate, so you should not be afraid of it.

What not to do

Urine has a pungent, difficult-to-remove odor. It will never be possible to eliminate odors with an air freshener or perfume. Eau de toilette will kill the stench for a short time, and after a while it will return and become more intense. You shouldn't punish your pets for doing something dirty. They may become even more angry and “shit” in their shoes constantly. Do not use bleach to remove stench. In everyday life, it does an excellent job of neutralizing odors, but its use can deform shoes.

Remember that cats love cleanliness, but they need to be trained from childhood. Remove urine stench in a variety of ways to avoid damaging your shoes. Just in case, buy special products; they get rid of urine best. If you don’t have a spray or aerosol at home, then use one of the homemade recipes to eliminate stench.

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Use of folk remedies

It is impossible to use the same product for shoes made of different materials, so it is worth considering many features and factors.

Laundry soap

The method is applicable to textile or leather products and is the most effective and widely available for eliminating the smell of cat urine. When processing in this way, the problem area of ​​the shoe should be slightly moistened with water, then rubbed with hard soap. Rags and house slippers can be soaked in a soapy solution with a small amount of warm water.

Iodine

Iodine is the best way to remove the smell of cat urine from dark shoes, including leather ones. For processing, dissolve a few drops of it in water and apply it to the product. In the case of light-colored shoes, it is not recommended to resort to this method, as this may aggravate the situation.

Baking soda

It is important not to use this method for colored and smooth shoes, since the scratches formed after treatment with baking soda will contribute to the rapid contamination of the product. Basically, the method is favorable in case of a fresh stain. Pour soda onto a damp place, leave it for a while, then wash the product with soap and water. It is recommended to dry your shoes in the fresh air.

Lemon

This method is perfect for most shoes not made of suede. However, in this case, processing should be carried out without delay. In order to eliminate the smell of cat urine using lemon, you should use the following recommendations:

• Prepare a solution of citric acid (4 g of powder in 100 ml of water) or squeeze lemon juice.
• Treat the stain by generously moistening a cloth with the solution.
• Leave for a few minutes.
• Wipe the problem area with a damp sponge.
• Repeat the procedure if necessary.

Both citric acid solution and fresh lemon juice are aimed at an identical result, it is only important that specific proportions are observed. It is also permissible to combine lemon with other cleaning products.

Vinegar

Acetic acid completely eliminates the problem of unpleasant odor due to the fact that it destroys the components of biological fluid with its chemical structure. Soda is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2, then applied with a sponge to the problem area.

Camphor or boric alcohol

The method is applicable for most types of shoes in case of stubborn stains, when the smell of urine remains persistent after drying, and any contact with moisture creates the feeling of a fresh cat mark. Boric alcohol is wiped over the surface, or poured into the product and left without rinsing. The principle of camphor alcohol is quite similar, it is also used for old tags and removes odor from various materials. Before processing, camphor alcohol is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2. In this case, it is recommended to work with gloves.

Potassium permangantsovka

To combat odor on suede shoes, the optimal remedy is potassium permanganate. The lighter the shade of the product, the weaker the solution is prepared. A small amount of prepared potassium permanganate solution is applied to the surface, after which the shoes are wiped dry. After processing, you can lift the pile with a special rubber brush.

Hydrogen peroxide

Treatment with hydrogen peroxide is usually used when the problem has arisen inside the shoe product, since the product leaves characteristic white spots on the material. To eliminate the smell of cat urine, soak the insole with a small amount of peroxide, then remove the resulting foam and leave the shoes in the open air until completely dry. Combination with other means is acceptable, only at intervals of use.

Alcohol-containing

The method is available for most shoe products. To process, moisten a napkin in vodka or alcohol and leave it in the shoes for 2-3 hours. The smell of cat urine will be eliminated, while the ethanol will quickly disappear from the surface of the product.

Why do cats mark shoes?

Cat urine is not only the result of the kidneys excreting waste products from the body, but also a way to mark territory, which is used in the animal world. This explains such a strong smell, because a representative of the fauna may need to return to this place after a while, sometimes quite a long time.

Using boots instead of a litter box, cats show who is the owner of the territory

Despite the fact that cats are domesticated, the chemical composition of their urine is identical to that of their wild relatives:

• urea (which guarantees stickiness after drying);
• urochrome (colors any material it touches yellow);
• uric acid (the main cause of unpleasant odor).

The latter is often the biggest problem. Especially for those who are trying to remove the “trouble” with water and soapy water. This is a completely futile endeavor, since uric acid crystallizes in air, and small crystals cannot be dissolved in water. So you will have to look for more effective and proven methods.

Chemical substances

Professional means for eliminating the smell of urine are resorted to quite often, even if there are known methods at hand. The cost of such drugs, as a rule, is much higher, however, they are more effective and reliable.

The most common mistakes

There are several considerations when choosing a cleaning product to eliminate the smell of cat urine in shoes. Product processing should be approached responsibly, so it is important to avoid common mistakes.

1. Air fresheners and other fragrance products do not eliminate, but only temporarily hide unpleasant odors. In addition, the problem will reappear in the presence of a small amount of moisture.
2. Do not use products containing bleach, including bleach. After treatment with bleach, a shoe product will become spoiled, and a pungent odor can attract a pet and cause another stain.
3. No effect will follow after using essential oils; moreover, the unwanted odor on shoes can only intensify.
4. Ammonia will not prevent the cat from marking the product again and will not cover the smell of urine due to the ammonia it contains.

First of all, shoes must be treated using reliable methods, and only after removing the ingrained components of cat urine is the use of scented preparations allowed.

How to protect your shoes from your pet

It can be very difficult to get rid of the smell of cat urine, so you should take care in advance to ensure that the cat does not damage your shoes. Simple precautions will suffice for this:

• train your pet to go to the toilet only in a certain place;
• Clean your pet's litter box regularly;
• leave shoes where the cat cannot reach, for example, in a shoe cabinet, and do not forget to close the doors;
• monitor the health of the animal.

You can also scare your pet away from shoes using an unpleasant odor. For example, cats do not like the aroma of coffee, citrus, lavender, cinnamon, mint and rosemary. Therefore, it is enough to leave a cotton wool soaked in the appropriate essential oil and the wayward animal will soon wean itself from the bad habit of wetting the shoes of guests or the owner.

Important! This method will not help if the cat left his mark on the item in advance, since its persistent smell will block other aromas.

Based on the above, it is worth noting that many products have now been created to rid any shoes of the unpleasant smell of pet urine. But first of all, when such a problem occurs, try to understand the reason for your cat’s behavior. He may be doing this because he has health problems and needs veterinary help.