I am a great lover of animals. Three dogs and still counting....Owen, a springer spaniel age 9, Stanley, a cocker spaniel, age 4, and baby Lilly another adorable sharp little (5 month old) springer spaniel. Anyway, I will not continue to speak about them - a hard habit to break; rather, I will discuss a more important issue surrounding home sales and animals.
IL start by sharing an experience that has occurred more frequently then it should. John was a home seller that I represented on many occasions. After his divorce he had accumulated 8 cats to fulfill the void in his life. Understandable- pets offer so much love. However he adopted a serious flee problem which presented problems on listing and showing this home. This problem coupled with that distinct cat urine odor was enhanced in the heat of the summer. I discovered these issues during my first open house. As the temperature rose, the fabreze aroma was withering quickly. Fortunately for me my allergies had kicked in; so that muted my sense of smell.
The first family rang the doorbell and proceeded in. As they were signing the guest book login I noticed them sniffing , recognizing the odor immediately and if that wasn't bad enough, the younger kid kept itching his left leg. At that point I didn't put two +two together. But by 2 PM I watched a family run out of there scratching their limbs and at that point I was itchy too. The house was infested with flees!
I came home that evening after speaking with my client ( "Mr. Smith....we have a problem that I need to discuss, but nothing that's not fixable!", I assured him. I crossed my fingers hoping that when I got home a little "GOOGLE.COM would give me the answers and suggestions I needed to pass along to my dear client. Funny thing is, I had just told a realtor the day before to "knock em dead" when she inquired about bringing her relocation clients for a showing of this home - Gosh, had she known in advance that these words precisely fit this situation.
Christine, my girlfriend and marketing specialist for my team, was anxiously awaiting my arrival home, as I had promised her dinner at one of favorite outdoor restaurants in Jersey City. My search would be put on hold temporarily as we jumped on the turnpike heading towards the Holland tunnel. As she spoke to me I noticed that she too had begun to furiously scratch her neck and arms. Oh boy I thought, we had made a pact a long time ago to leave our troubles at the office. That evening Christine helped me research. Below are some resourceful answers. After relaying this advise to my seller, and even helping him scrub...the house sold 6 weeks later!
Cat urine has earned a reputation for being one of the most formidable of all pet odors. It not only smells horrible, but has a very persistent odor that must be removed entirely. Leaving any trace of it is an invitation for your kitty to re-mark the same area over and over again. Most commercially available pet-odor removers are expensive and also unnecessary unless you're dealing with an aged urine stain or a fragile fabric.
Caution: Test this method on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't cause damage or discoloration.
Remove as much of the urine as possible by blotting the stain with a dry towel, re-wetting it with warm water, and repeating. A shampooer, wetvac, or steamer can make this step much easier.
Once you've removed as much urine as you are willing (or able) to, re-saturate the area with a 50/50 water/white vinegar solution and allow it to air dry (use a fan if you're in a rush).
Fill a container with enough water to saturate the stained area and add a drop of regular dish detergent. Pour the solution on top of the baking soda.
Using either your hands, towels, or a scrub brush, work the baking soda, water and detergent paste into the carpet - work it in good and deep, then allow it to air dry.
Once the area has dried completely and the baking soda has returned to powder form, vacuum it up. If the vacuum isn't cutting it, it can be blotted up using water and towels.
Repeat steps 3-6 as needed to remove any remaining odor.
Removing Cat Urine from Upholstery
Caution: Test this method on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't cause damage or discoloration.
Remove as much of the urine as possible by flushing the article/area with clean water and then removing as much of it as possible with either towels of a wet-vac
Once you've removed as much urine as you are willing (or able) to, re-saturate the area with a 50/50 water/white vinegar solution and allow it to air dry (use a fan if you're in a rush).
Cover the area liberally with baking soda - use lots!
Fill a container with enough water to saturate the stained area and add a drop of regular dish detergent. Pour the solution on top of the baking soda.
Using either your hands, towels, or a scrub brush, work the baking soda/water/detergent paste into the fabric - work it in good and deep, then allow it to air dry.
Once the area has dried completely and the baking soda has returned to powder form, vacuum it up. If the vacuum isn't cutting it, it can be blotted up using water and towels.
Repeat steps 3-6 as needed to remove any remaining odor.
Commercial Cat Urine Removers
If the steps outlined above just weren't enough to kill the odor, the next logical step is either to try an odor-removal product, or call in a professional cleaner to contend with the problem. There are TONS of pet odor cleaners currently on the market, and they tend to be expensive so it's a good idea to do some pre-purchase research. Also make sure you check the bottom of this page for tips submitted by other users.
How to Select a Cat Urine Remover
Epinions is a good place to start your search for a product that fits your needs. Different cleaners tend to work better in different situations so search for success stories with circumstances that match your own (Old stains, kittens, fabric types, etc). Once you've found a few that look good, perform some searches using the product name
Fleas and ticks are annoying critters that can irritate both the dog and the dog's owner. Fleas leave itchy bites and multiply quickly. Ticks burrow under an animal's skin where they can feast on the animal's blood. Ticks can also spread diseases to their victims. Keeping a dog pest free can be a difficult job, especially if the dog lives in an environment that caters to these pesky insects. Here are a few tips on how to prevent fleas and ticks from getting onto dogs.
Avoid Tall Grass and Weeds
Fleas and ticks generally stick to wooded areas and fields with tall grass or plants. These locations are ideal for these critters to jump onto or latch onto a large animal. When dogs venture into these areas, they become vulnerable to these insects. It is best to keep dogs out of wooded areas or areas where the grass and weeds are overgrown. If the owner and dog love to hike, owners should consider keeping their dog on a short leash to keep the dog from venturing into the vegetation surrounding the trail.
Stay Rodent Free
If owners are accustomed to leaving their dogs in the back yard or in a storage shed, they need to be sure that they eliminate places where rodents could nest. For example, owners should close off any small holes or crevices where rodents could squeeze in and live. Also, any piles of junk, wood piles, or stacks of wood should be organized so that rodents do not make these locations their new home. Because young fleas and ticks often latch onto small animals, it is best to keep the dog's area rodent free in order to prevent those young fleas and ticks from transferring onto the dog's bed or body.
Keep Dog Healthy
Fleas and ticks prey on animals that are not healthy. By feeding their dog a healthy diet and keeping the dog in good physical shape, owners will help prevent their dogs from attracting irritating bugs. Consult a veterinarian to understand what the best diet is for each breed of dog. Keeping a dog healthy will help make sure the fleas and ticks find another, less healthy, dog to feed on.
Natural and Chemical Treatments
When owners are eager to go hiking or running with their dog, they should consider spraying a natural or chemical treatment on their dog. These treatments are generally safe for dogs, but they are deadly to fleas and ticks. By spraying the dog with one of these types of treatments, owners will ensure that any bugs that try and connect to their dog will be killed instantly. Owners should consult with their veterinarian before spraying their dog with any kind of treatment to ensure that it will not be harmful to their dog.
Monitor the Dog
Owners should make a habit of checking their dog for bugs by combing slowly through their hair. If a dog has attracted one tick or flea, it does not mean that the entire house is infested. However, owners will need to take a few precautions to ensure that the insects do not reproduce. Owners should treat their animals and then wash or discard the animal's bedding. They may also consider fumigating their house. These chemicals can be bought at the store and will kill any stray fleas or ticks that may have burrowed into the carpet or furniture.