New Cat Causing an Odor Problem?

 Recently, a friend said she'd gotten a new cat from a male friend and the cat was spraying and urinating outside the litter box. She has an existing kitty, female.

Get into the mind of the cat! He's new, nothing smells like anything he remembers, and he is now living with a female person instead of a male person. Everything in his world has changed and he's very insecure. Getting angry won't do any good, and may make the situation worse. He is seeking to mark his territory. The existing cat may also be very unhappy with the new addition and be treating him meanly. Watch their interactions to be sure they are getting along.

The first thing to do is put a second litterbox out for the new cat. Where he's marked, soak a papertowel (wear gloves) in the urine to pick up the smell. Wipe it on the rim of the litterbox. This will mark the box for him. Put in one kind of litter and stick with it. If possible, find out what kind of litter he was using before and get that kind.

Next, soak up as much urine as possible with clear water to dilute it. Use white vinegar to theat the areas where he has marked. Use an ultraviolet light to find any other areas that may have been affected. Treat each area the same way.

Once the vinegar solution has dried, use an enzymatic cleaner and deodorizer on the spots. Enzymatic cleaners are better for use than chemical preparations. They don't interact with the chemical makeup of urine. As urine ages, it produces ammonia, which can be toxic in large amounts. Many chemicals react with ammonia creating toxic substances. Enzymes are nature's little miracles. They work in soil and our bodies to transform the bad stuff into good stuff.

If the spots dried in the carpet, the urine probably went through to the flooring beneath. Be sure to treat a larger area than indicated in this case. When you think you have all the spots, use the ultraviolet light again and check. You shouldn't see any highlighted areas. If you do, treat them.

Treat your cat with love and he will begin to feel welcomed and secure. Play with him. Love him.







About the author:

Copyright 2005, Morgen Marshall For the Love of Cats dot com

 Morgen Marshall

More Articles 

Prevent Feline UTI With a Canned Cat Food Diet (Part II) - Nancy E Wigal
Last week I wrote about the benefits of transitioning your cat to a raw food diet to stop feline urinary tract infections. As I also noted, some cats just won't eat raw food. Part II gives you information about the more common diet alternative -...

Introducing A New Kitten To Your Older Cat... - Larry Chamberlain
So, you read somewhere that introducing a new kitten into your home could be great for your existing cat, for companionship. And you remember how much fun your cat was when she was a new kitten, and you would love to re-live those days. It is...

Dog Travel - Taking a Vacation with Your Dog - Jane K
Like most dog owners, you probably take your dog with you on weekend excursions and trips to the country. When it comes time to take a longer vacation, however, we always face the dilemma of what to do with Fido. Traveling with your pup is not...

Training a Cat not to Spray - Tony Robinson
Is Toby the cat spraying everything and everyone in site? Is this resolving in unwanted messes in the house? Is Toby on the way out the door for good? Male cats are known to spray when they are in heat looking for Sue, the female cat to come...

Thyroid illness in cats and dogs - Nick Carmichael
Common clinical signs of hypothyroidism in dogs include weight gain, lethargy, reduced exercise tolerance and poor coat quality. However, the disease affects almost all body systems and as a result a wide variety of signs can potentially be...

Training Your Cat with Constructive Training - Tony Robinson
Are you training your cat and do not seem to be able to get too far with him. This is the time to look at the constructive training for training your cat or animal. First things first, NEVER USE PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT on your cat or any...

Flea Control For Cats And Dogs - Mark Woodcock
As a pet owner I'm sure you'd be frustrated at the sight of your pet scratching and suffering from fleas. If you look into the veterinary arsenal you will see that there are a number of products that help you fight the war against fleas. Of all...

Training a Cat not to Chew on Dangerous Objects - Tony Robinson
Cats chew, lick, or eat non-food objects for medical and behavioral reasons. Out of curiosity, a cat will try to chew on most things. Easy to swallow items will need to be put up out of reach of your cat. Cats chewing and eating items,...

Cat Anxiety and Cat Litter Box Problems - Nancy E Wigal
Frazzled felines will sometimes relieve their anxiety by urinating, or marking (spraying) outside the cat litter box. Here are a few of the causes and the solutions to calm your kitty down. Like humans, cats like their routines and daily habits....

How To Stop Your Cat Spraying - Marc de Jong
The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail and releases a fine spray of urine. Yes, your cat is spraying. You have a problem. But one you can solve. Figures from the British Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors say that aggression in dogs and...