Changes

==Removing Urine Contamination==

==Introduction==

The best way to remove odours from existing sites is as follows:

* Mop up excess urine and dry the surface using paper towels. Do not soak up urine using the cloth you intend to use for cleaning or wring a urine soaked cloth into the cleaning bucket as this will spread urine odours.

Test these cleaning products on an inconspicuous area of cloth or carpet before using them more widely to make sure that no discolouration or loss of colour is likely to occur.

1: A solution of biological clothes washing powder or liquid in water (approximately 1 part of powder/liquid cleaner to 10 parts of water)

Scented products and those containing ammonia should not be used to clean up spray marks because they may intensify urine odours and leave an objectionable smell that encourages over-marking.

Scented products and those containing ammonia should not be used to clean up spray marks because they may intensify urine odours and leave an objectionable smell that encourages over-marking.

==Protecting Property from Urine Damage==

==Protecting Property from Urine Damage==

Wooden floors:

'''Wooden floors''':<br>

* Seal joints and junctions between flooring and skirting boards or fitted furniture [kitchen units] with a silicone or an appropriate waterproof sealant to prevent urine from getting into cracks.

Any joints and junctions between flooring and skirting boards or fitted furniture (kitchen units) should be sealed with a silicone or an appropriate waterproof sealant to prevent urine from getting into cracks. The same applies to joints between panels of laminated flooring (urine ingress will cause panels to expand and pop up). Wooden floors should be pained with two or more coats of a heavy varnish or damp-sealant paint. If possible, the painted or varnished area should be extended to over-paint the sealant and thus create a complete barrier.

* Carefully seal joints between the panels of laminated flooring [urine ingress will cause panels to expand and pop up].

* Paint wooden floors with 2 or more coats of a heavy varnish [matt or gloss according to choice] or damp-sealant paint. If possible, extend the painted or varnished area to over-paint the sealant and thus create a complete barrier.

Concrete floors:

'''Concrete floors''':<br>

* Clean the floor and allow it to dry.

Concrete floor shoud be cleaned and allowed to dry. Any cracks should be sealed as for wooden floors above. Several coats of waterproofing paint should then be applied.

* Seal cracks as above.

* Paint it with several coats of a waterproofing paint.

Vinyl floors:

'''Vinyl floors''':<br>

* Some vinyl floors are porous, especially if they are old.

Some vinyl floors are porous, especially if they are old, and may be sealed using specialist paints and coatings. Cracked vinyl flooring should be removed and replaced.

* They may be sealed using specialist paints and coatings available from DIY centres.

* Cracked vinyl flooring should be removed and replaced.

Tiled floors:

'''Tiled floors''':<br>

* Glazed tiles are generally non-porous but grout between the tiles may absorb urine.

Glazed tiles are generally non-porous but grout between the tiles may absorb urine. Terracotta tiles are porous unless regularly sealed with a specialist coating. Specialist sealant on grout should be used. Scraping out old grout in heavily urine-contaminated areas and replacing it with new waterproof grout is recommended.

* Terracotta tiles are porous unless regularly sealed with a specialist coating [available from DIY stores].

* Use a specialist sealant on grout.

* Consider scraping out old grout in heavily urine-contaminated areas and replacing it with new waterproof grout.

Carpets:

'''Carpets''':<br>

* When fitting new carpet, clean and seal the flooring underneath [as above].

Before fitting new carpet, the flooring underneath should be cleaned and sealed as above. Applying a layer of heavy plastic sheeting beneath the carpet or underlay to prevent urine from seeping into the floor may be beneficial. Existing carpets can be protected by covering them with heavy plastic sheeting and then cleaning the carpet underneath at least 2-3 times weekly until no further urine odour persists.

* Consider applying a layer of heavy plastic sheeting beneath the carpet or underlay to prevent urine from seeping into the floor.

* Protect existing carpets by covering them with heavy plastic sheeting and then cleaning the carpet underneath at least 2-3 times weekly until no further urine odour persists.

Wooden furniture:

'''Wooden furniture''':<br>

* Where possible apply 2+ coats of varnish, especially under wooden feet of furniture [to stop urine absorption into wood grain].

Where possible, appliction of two or more coats of varnish, especially under wooden feet of furniture, will stop urine absorption into wood grain. If this is not possible, regular applications of a heavy wax furniture polish is a good alternative.  

* Otherwise use regular applications of a heavy wax furniture polish.  

Computers and electronic equipment:

'''Computers and electronic equipment''':<br>

* Urine marking or soiling on electrical equipment is a serious health hazard: it can cause fires and electrical failures.

Urine marking or soiling on electrical equipment is a serious health hazard: it can cause fires and electrical failures. Any soiled equipment should be disconnected from the electricity outlet and cleaned carefully in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and dried thoroughly. Any cooking equipment that is impossible to clean thoroughly (e.g. old toasters) should be disposed of, because these represent a health hazard. Equipment currently not in use can be protected by storing in in a cupboard or under plastic sheeting (remembering the need for some equipment to be properly ventilated).

* Disconnect the equipment from the electricity outlet and clean carefully in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

* Allow to dry thoroughly.

* Dispose of any cooking equipment that is impossible to clean thoroughly [e.g. old toasters], because these represent a health hazard.

* Keep the equipment in a cupboard where it cannot be further soiled, or cover it in plastic sheeting when you are not using it [remembering the need for some equipment to be properly ventilated].

Electrical outlets:

'''Electrical outlets''':<br>

* Urine entering a wall socket can cause a fire or shock hazard, so access to the location should be restricted.

Urine entering a wall socket can cause a fire or shock hazard, so access to the location should be restricted. As an additional protection, outlets can be covered with cling-film or a large flap of polythene hanging down over the socket, taped to the wall above it or alternatively using child proof plug guards.

* As an additional protection, cover the outlet with cling-film or a large flap of polythene hanging down over the socket, taped to the wall above it or alternatively use child proof plug guards.

==Altering Spraying Sites to Make Them Unattractive to the Cat==

==Altering Spraying Sites to Make Them Unattractive to the Cat==

* Place small bowls of food close to the marking location and combine this with an increase in the overall number of feeding stations throughout the house.

* Placing small bowls of food close to the marking location and combining this with an increase in the overall number of feeding stations throughout the house

* Use plastic or aluminium foil sheets to cover flooring around the spray site, as some cats will not tread on this.

* Using plastic or aluminium foil sheets to cover flooring around the spray site, as some cats will not tread on this

* Position a scratching post in front of the site to provide an alternative method of marking.

* Positioning a scratching post in front of the site to provide an alternative method of marking

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour BS]]

[[Category:To Do - Behaviour BS]]

[[Category:Feline Housesoiling]]

[[Category:Feline Housesoiling]]