Why does cat urine slowly dry out and become more slutty the longer it goes on instead?
First, the urine gets broken down by bacteria first, making it smell like ammonia.
Then, as it breaks down further, it releases mercaptans, which just makes the smell worse.
Photo from: kristenlevine.com
Also, older cats (reduced kidney function) and male cats (testosterone) will have relatively sluttier urine...
2. Why is the urine odor still there even though it has been cleaned?
√√ Water-soluble components are easy to clean
The urea, urobilin/urobilinogen, creatinine, and pheromones in urine are water-soluble, and can be cleaned out with white vinegar, baking soda, and detergents.
× But it's the water-insoluble urates that are the problem
Uric acid is insoluble in water, but binds tightly to any contact surface.
Commonly used cleansers of all types are unable to break down uric acid in urine.
Urate meets moist air and re-forms uric acid, releasing the odor.
Thus, the half-life of cat urine can range from 2 to 6 years in various reports.
Why do cats come here to pee when there's no more urine odor?
Is there really no smell? A cat's sense of smell is at least 6 times more sensitive than a human's (after all, there are 2 sets of olfactory systems and multiple nose plows). Just because a human can't smell it doesn't mean a cat can't.
How many parents stick their nose in like this and think "I can't smell it means it doesn't smell". Picture from: eHow
3, deodorant, air freshener, decongestant, the difference between avoidance agent
The vast majority of deodorant, is "sterilization deodorant", that is, to prevent "bacteria odor", neutralize some of the ingredients, and temporary masking The most important thing is that you have to be able to get the best out of it.
So it's just a temporary masking of the odor (but there is no product that can mask 2-6 years, and urates to fight a "long-lasting war"); or neutralize the water-soluble components (white vinegar, baking soda can do the job).
White vinegar/baking soda is recommended here. Image from: wikiHow
Avoidants are used to prevent pets from entering an area after being sprayed, and most contain odors that cats hate (citronella, citrus). It is a "masking" effect and is used to completely eliminate the smell of urine before spraying. Picture from: eHow
Biological enzyme / enzyme cleaner (detoxification), is the use of protease molecules to break down the uric acid in the urine, so that it evaporates. Properly an effective ingredient for removing uric acid, these are commonly available in sprays as well as laundry detergents.
Here's another brand, urine-off. image via eHow
Air fresheners, as any parent who has used one knows: It's not necessary, it's really not necessary. Because it just adds a strong new smell to the room in vain. When it doesn't dissipate, the smell of urine + air freshener is sensational; when it dissipates, the smell of urine remains.
No picture here, no brand recommendation
4, plagued by the smell of urine, you need to do the most?
While it's important to choose the right tools/products to completely remove urine odor, it's even more important to find the cause if you want to get rid of it once and for all!
Cat Litter Box Urine Odor
Cat urine odor itself, is natural (Lu Xun did not say "fart does not stink, it is in vain").
If the urine odor comes from the litter box, all parents need to do is: shovel and clean it up!
! Note
Any deodorizers, avoidants, and detoxification products are not suitable to be sprayed directly on the surface of urine or urine clumps; they all need to be dried out as much as possible first (don't rub back and forth, use absorbent paper/towel, and press to absorb the dryness).
Urine odor outside the litter box
Photo from: petcarepal.com
▌1 Always check for disease problems first
Almost all urinary, some reproductive/neurological/endocrine disorders can lead to changes in the amount of urine and painful urination in cats. Cats may refuse to use the litter box because they "can't hold their urine" or because they mistakenly think that "peeing in the litter box hurts".
The first step is to check for a medical problem through a urinalysis (with additional X-rays and ultrasound).
▌2 Marking behavior? Heat? Anxiety?
The first step in addressing urine spraying during estrus, or behaviors that develop over time from urine spraying, is always the first step: spaying or neutering.
Also, just as humans scratch their hair or pick at their fingers when they're nervous, cats mark to relieve anxiety.
▌3 Various environments, improper setup, stress/anxiety triggers messy urination
Compare the 17 possibilities listed, and start by targeting 3-4 possibilities, and make adjustments and changes on a case-by-case basis.
→It's really not revenge for cats to urinate indiscriminately, with the most complete list of 17 causes and solutions
!
Many times, behavioral problems are solved by "eliminating multiple possibilities → locking in a few possibilities → trying to change → problem solving" before the cause is finally determined.
So try.
Additionally, the number of factors that can be changed during the same period of time should be kept to one or two to prevent anxiety caused by a large-scale change in the environment due to too many factors being changed.
5, hand in hand to teach you, permanently remove the smell of urine
▌Step1 First time to clean up cat urine
Ahead of the mentioned "the longer the wine the more mellow, the longer the urine the more slutty," and "all kinds of products are ineffective against direct urine urine mass ".
So, first use an absorbent paper towel/paper towel to soak up the surface urine.
Photo from: animalshelter.org
▌Step2 Old "pee", find and target it with the help of equipment
If you don't catch it in the act, you'll be left with the situation of "smelling like pee, but it's all over the house, and I don't know where it is! "...
It's time to keep a Wood's lamp (the same one you use for skin exams, to shine on ringworm in cats) and go through the house. Urine stains will show up fluorescent blue under a Wood's lamp (turn off the lights in the whole house for a more pronounced effect).
We tried the 9.9-package checking lamp, which did not have this effect. Figure from: Cat Research Hospital
▌Step3 Spray/Sprinkle Depurative on Urine Stains
The test is to verify its effectiveness, and it is easy to observe after wiping.
For normal use, do not wipe off the demulcent after spraying it on the surface of the urine stain! Wait for it to combine and react and evaporate on its own!
In the case of clothing, bedding, etc., you can dry it outdoors during the period.
▌Step4: Confirmation of the need for "consolidation"
The protease enzyme utilized to detoxify urea is effective in breaking down urine stains that are more than 1~2 years old. However, most of the products you find suggest that you may need to spray 2 to 3 times to get rid of old stains.
▌Step5 Clean the litter box in time & investigate the cause of cat urine
Examine, improve, and prevent the next "hit" from the source.
▌Step6: Selecting Avoidance Agents According to the Situation
A very small number of cats may still urinate near the original point of urination after thoroughly cleaning the cat's urine due to the fixed behavioral habits they have developed. However, this probability is very low (after all, cats are clean, have a comfortable litter box and clean cat litter, are not willing to leave urine stains messy urine).
Then, according to the situation, you can choose natural ingredients, safe and healthy cat-specific avoidance agent products. Of course, if the cat itself is sensitive to citrus flavors, put a tangerine peel or grapefruit peel, is enough.