Cleaning Up Toileting Accidents
by Dr Joanne Righetti
‘Accidents’ around the home need to be cleaned up thoroughly. Our human emphasis is on cleanliness with strong, perfumed, often ammonia-based products. Sometimes these ammonia-based cleaners smell like urine to the feline or canine nose and they actually encourage the cat or dog back to that particular spot to relieve himself. Without knowing it, we actually create or encourage the habit.
Use gentler cleaning products such as bicarbonate of soda solutions or a solution of your laundry washing powder. There are also commercially available products that help remove the scent. These are enzymatic cleaners that breakdown the bacteria in the deposited urine and faeces. These cleaners may need to be applied liberally to carpets and other areas soiled by your cat or dog, even between floorboards to eliminate any toilet residues.
Remember to provide appropriate places for your pet to toilet and praise him or her when they get it right.
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